30 DAYS OF NIGHT Revisions by Adi Hasak Current Revisio ns by … · 2014-02-03 · 30 DAYS OF NIGHT Screenplay by Steve Niles Based on the graph ic novel by Niles & Templesmith Revisions

30 DAYS OF NIGHT

Screenplay by Steve Niles

Based on the graphic novel by Niles & Templesmith

Revisions by Stuart BeattieRevisions by Adi Hasak

Current Revisions by Brian Nelson, 11/28/05Second Revisions, 1/27/06Production Polish, 7/22/06

Script provided for educational purposes. More scripts can be found here: http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/library

FADE IN:

EXT. ALASKAN COAST - DUSK - PRE-TITLES1 1

TITLE: TWO DAYS AGO. Snowstorm. A single man in a rowboat -- the STRANGER -- forges through the icy waters toward the coast. It’s hard to say how old he is -- 20s, 40s? -- because he’s so filthy and red-eyed and yet so fiercely driven.

In shadows behind him stands the eerie, forbidding SHIP which brought him this far. Hitting the edge of the ice, the Stranger clambers out of his boat and trudges inland, smiling thinly as he sees the boat drift away, no use to him anymore --

TITLES ROLL as we follow the Stranger through the wide, eerie twilight of the Alaskan wilderness -- blasted by the wind yet persevering, too yearning and wild-eyed to slow down --

As he crests a small ridge of ice, we see a clutch of lights shimmering in the distance: BARROW, ALASKA. An Arctic outpost of a town, an oil and mining outpost ringed with derricks and tundra. The Stranger grins as he sees Barrow twinkling through the snowstorm, and presses onward AS TITLES END --

EXT. SLOPE - SUNDOWN2 2

TITLE: TONIGHT. A MAN stands, back to the setting sun, his *face cloaked in shadows -- until he turns thoughtfully, the *light gradually revealing a weathered and soulful gaze. He is *SHERIFF EBEN OLESON, early 30s -- *

EBENStrange.

He faces BILLY KITKA, earnest, 40s, wearing a deputy’s badge *and shining a flashlight into a snowbank west of Barrow -- *

BILLYAin’t it? Who’d do a thing like this? *

THEIR POV: a smoldering, eerie hole in the snow -- filled with BURNED CELL AND SATELLITE PHONES --

Eben kneels down to examine the firepit, baffled --

BILLY (cont’d) *Someone got a little upset about roaming charges?

EBENStealing satellite phones’d make sense, you could hock them, maybe run up charges on someone’s account. But burning them?


BILLYKids? Pulling some prank?

EBENThere’d be a message. “Fuck you” to their parents or the world or whoever.

Eben walks up toward the summit, thoughtfully --

EBEN (cont’d)Best place to solve this is the Diner, Billy. Get people talking, they’ll gossip and figure it out for us.

Billy watches as Eben keeps hiking toward the crest --

EXT. SUMMIT - SUNDOWN3 3

The last golden arc of the sun gleams, silhouetting Eben, as Billy comes to join him.

BILLYI remember I brought Peggy here on our first date.

EBENWe all did. Not Peggy, I mean, just --

BILLY(light chuckle)

I gotcha. C’mon, let’s do the sign -- *(studying his friend)

You okay?

Eben stares out at the sun quietly, wistfully --

EBENYeah, I only --

(a beat)Last sunset for a month, some years it’s easier to take, y’know?

Eben turns, not ready to say more, and Billy knows better than to ask. Shoving his feelings down deep, Eben hikes back toward the 4x4 waiting at the bottom of the slope --

OMITTED3A 3A

EXT. BARROW CITY LIMITS - DUSK4 4

The sun’s down, but light filters through approaching night. The 4x4 comes to a stop beside a bright, good-natured sign from a Tourism Bureau with a sense of humor:

2.


“WELCOME TO BARROW, ALASKA -- TOP OF THE WORLD! POPULATION 563 -- WARNING! DANGER! POLAR BEARS!”

Billy jumps from the 4x4 to the “WELCOME TO BARROW” sign, pulling out some metal tags. Eben calls from the car --

EBENNobody’s gonna see that sign for the next thirty days --

BILLYIt’s a tradition!

Billy hangs the tags “152” over the “563,” changing the population for the winter. OVER THIS, THE SOUND OF DOGS BARKING FIERCELY --

EXT. RIIS HOME - DUSK5 5 *

Elongating shadows from the fleeting amber daylight. The residential side of Barrow. Homes are built on stilts to avoid the stresses of ice and critters in their foundations. All the homes have crawlspaces underneath, of varying sizes.

FOUR HUSKIES ARE BARKING from behind the fence of the RIIS *residence -- sled dogs deeply unhappy about something --

A SHADOW passes across the screen -- the dogs follow the shadow angrily -- until suddenly there is a GLEAMING FLASH AND HISS OF A BLADE -- the SICKENING SLICE OF A KNIFE INTO FLESH, and the barks are replaced by horrifying WHINES OF PAIN.

EXT. BARROW CITY LIMITS/EBEN’S 4X4 - DUSK5A 5A

At the edge of town, Eben and Billy pull over beside a HUGE SNOWPLOW swerved crookedly onto the shoulder. The back is covered with a tarp; a stream of oil drips from the truckbed. Working under the open hood is BEAU BROWER, late 50s, thick-bearded, an ox of a man with the social skills to match.

EBENLittle problem?

BEAU(not a glance up)

Nothin’ I can’t handle my own fuckin’ self.

Eben gets out of his 4x4, circles the vehicle, pulls a leaking GAS CAN from under the tarp.

EBENThis for generators?

3.


BEAUMostly.

EBENI can’t have it leaking all over the roads, Beau. I’ll have to cite you for that.

He pulls out a citation book, scribbles away as Beau rants --

BEAUYou don’t HAVETA cite me. You don’t HAVETA do anything. That’s why we live up here, innit? So we gotta little freedom? Why don’t you run Billy on home so he can cuddle with that cute wifey of his? One of us oughta get laid tonight, at least --

Eben rips a ticket blithely, tucks it in Beau’s parka --

EBENHappy motoring.

BEAUI’ll add this to my collection.

Eben climbs back in the 4x4 and starts the engine --

BILLYBeau’s not so bad. Why do you bother writing him up?

EBENHe lives all by himself in that cabin on the south ridge, y’know? A little citation now and then reminds Beau he’s part of this town.

BILLYHe’s right, though --

EBENAbout what?

BILLYYou should drop me at home. The wife always likes the first night of the Dark --

Eben gently smirks as the WALKIE-TALKIE BLARES with the VOICE of his elderly dispatcher, HELEN --

4.


HELEN (O.S.)Eben, come in, Eben --

EBENRoger, Helen -- *

HELENYou better get over to John Riis’s -- *something bad’s happened to his dogs --

Eben glances at Billy, puzzled and concerned: what the hell?

EXT. STREETS - DUSK6 6

TOM MELANSON, teens, sturdy, kisses his GIRLFRIEND goodbye --

TOMSee you in the light, baby -- I’ll be good while you’re gone, I promise --

TRUCK PAST Tom and his girlfriend through the town’s main drag, still warm in the ebbing light of magic hour. Simple white lights, all the town can afford, spark to life, giving Barrow a naive romance. TOWNSFOLK mill about, celebrating like it’s New Year’s Eve. HONKING horns, hugging and kissing. DOUG HERTZ, late 30s, brawny and well fed, kisses HIS WIFE --

DOUG-- ‘sokay, sweetie, I know you can’t take a month with no sun -- I promise I won’t live on Oreos and Snapple --

KIRSTEN TOOMEY, lean, 20, hands suitcases to HER FATHER PETER, 40s, as he loads up his car for the airport --

PETER-- wish you’d come with me, Kirsten. I hate this place in December. Nothing here but twenty-eight miles of road, and all of them dead-end.

KIRSTEN(hugs him goodbye) *

I’m gonna get all caught up, Dad, the taxes, January’s orders, don’t worry! Have fun in Seattle! *

EXT. KELSO HOUSE - DUSK6A 6A

CHARLIE KELSO, 40s, HAMMERS the last planks to board up his HOUSE, a successful oil worker’s home with an ornamental row of glass bricks in the facade. An impatient MRS. KELSO AND THEIR TWO SONS load luggage into their Range Rover.

5.


MRS. KELSOCharlie, do you want to make it to Maui or not?

Her voice is such that Charlie’s not altogether sure about Maui, but he finishes hammering nonetheless --

EXT. GENERAL STORE - DUSK6B 6B

STELLA OLESON -- 20s, hardy, attractive, in the jacket of the *Alaska State Fire Marshal’s office -- works under deadline to inspect foam firefighting tanks housed outside the general *store. Walking by with a trashbin is store proprietor ADAM *COLLETTA, 30s, genial and sturdy --

ADAMKinda put this off till the last *minute, didja? *

STELLAA lot of small towns in this state -- my boss wants all their gear inspected *and certified by the 31st. *

ADAMAnd I notice you saved Barrow for last -- sure you don’t wanna stay? Jeannie and I were kinda hoping you and Eben --

Stella shakes her head patiently: it’s not happening. She *checks forms on her clipboard, closes it, heads for her 4x4 -- *

STELLA Thanks a ton. Gotta make the plane --

She starts up her engine as Adam sighs -- shame to see a woman like this alone --

EXT./INT. BARROW CITY LIMITS/STELLA’S 4X4 - DUSK6C 6C *

Stella’s driving, hellbent for the airport. Coming from the *left at a desolate intersection is a large DITCH DRILLER -- an *enormous RUMBLING truck with treads instead of tires, and a *maneuverable ROARING CHAINSAW mounted on its nose. The ditch *driller SHOULD stop at a STOP SIGN -- *

But to Stella’s shock, the ditch driller DOESN’T stop, *imbedding its chainsaw in one of Stella’s FRONT TIRES and *fishtailing Stella’s 4x4 to a full stop -- *

Stella emerges from her 4x4, livid --

6.


STELLAGoddamn it, Malekai! Don’t you know *what a stop sign means? *

Climbing out of the cab is MALEKAI HAMM, 20, abashed -- *

MALEKAII’m sorry, Stella, the brakes jammed --

Mute with anger, Stella inspects both her own useless vehicle *and the ditch driller -- *

MALEKAI (cont’d) *Eben wanted this back from the airport *before the storm hits, I was just trying to --

Stella doesn’t have time for Malekai’s sputtering guilt; she pops the trunk on her 4x4 and pulls out her carryon bag, looking at the snowy, isolated expanse around them -- *

STELLAWho’s gonna run me to the airport? *

ADAMWouldn’t Eben -- ? *

Stella sighs deeply; of course Eben would, but -- *

STELLA *I just popped into town for work, I *didn’t want things to get messy -- *

MALEKAI *My mom could bring the towtruck -- but *y’know she doesn’t move so fast -- *

STELLAThanks, Malekai -- *

For nothing. Stella gives up and pulls out her cellphone -- *

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - DUSK7 7 *

Eben’s dropping Billy off, when his CELLPHONE RINGS. He sees *“STELLA” on the display, CLICKS ON WARILY -- *

EBENIt’s me.

Billy can tell who it is from Eben’s tone, lingers in the open *door of the 4x4 to eavesdrop, until Eben shoos him off -- *

7.


INTERCUT WITH --

EXT. BARROW CITY LIMITS - DUSK - RESUME7A 7A *

Stella, anxious next to a sheepish Malekai, not looking *forward to this call --

STELLASurprise. I need a ride to the airport.

EBENWait -- what? You’re in town -- ? And you didn’t want to talk -- ?

STELLA(not harsh, just honest)

What about? Look, I had Fire Marshal work here, now I’m stuck at Ransom and *355, gotta get back to Anchorage *before the airport closes. You want to talk, we can do it on the drive --

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - DUSK - RESUME7B 7B *

Maybe Eben doesn’t want to talk if this is how she’s gonna be. He covers the cellphone, checks his watch. Opening his door, *he YELLS DOWN THE STREET to the departing Billy -- *

EBENHEY, BILLY! Stella’s at Ransom and *355, can you get her to a plane? *

Billy signals thumbs up, hikes off quickly, as Eben calmly *gets back on the cell --

EBEN (cont’d) *Listen, John Riis needs my help with *something, so Billy’s on his way. You let me know if a day comes when you DO wanna talk.

EXT. BARROW CITY LIMITS - DUSK - SOME MOMENTS LATER7C 7C *

Stella examines the damage to her rental car -- not pleased. She checks her watch. Even less pleased. Where is Billy? *Malekai whines a bit ON HIS CELLPHONE -- *

MALEKAI *-- yeah, Mom, Stella asked the same *thing, could you just give me a tow? *

8.


Stella glances at the damaged car again, decides to take a *look at the ditch driller while Malekai haplessly loads all *his junk out of the vehicle. She kneels by the tires, inspects the brakes -- and frowns --

BILLY (O.S.)Your limo’s here, Ms. Oleson -- ! *

Stella jumps up thankfully, grabs her carryon and boards Billy’s 4x4 as they talk --

STELLAYou’ll be okay, Malekai -- *

(Malekai waves; to Billy) *Where’ve you been?!

BILLYThe car keys weren’t where I thought, *and then I was like, wait, Rogers and *355, or Ransom? And then when I -- *

STELLANever mind, let’s go --

EXT./INT. AIRPORT ROAD/BILLY’S 4X4 - NIGHT7D 7D *

Fully dark now. Stella checks her watch, practically writhing with anxiousness --

BILLYYou wanna know how Eben’s been doin’?

STELLA(a beat)

You’re gonna tell me whether I ask you or not, right?

(Billy smiles lopsidedly)Just drive, okay?

EXT. PIPELINE - NIGHT7E 7E *

Three oil workers, 20s, wobble past the PIPELINE. AARON (with *half-empty Jack Daniels) and GABE eye DENISE hopefully; while *she’s no starlet, to them she’s Catherine Zeta-Jones -- *

DENISE *Look, my landlady doesn’t want *pipeline workers keepin’ her up -- *

GABE *Denise is right, let’s head over to my *place -- *

9.


DENISE *(playfully) *

Neither of you are getting me alone -- *

AARON *Then we’ll share! Right? None of us *have to be greedy -- *

They all laugh, none of them sure where this might be heading *but willing to see -- as Eben pulls up beside them. *

EBEN *Hey, Aaron -- you know there’s no *drinking till the sun’s back up. *

They shift, embarrassed to be busted, as Gabe takes the bottle *from Aaron and hands it to Eben -- *

GABE *We don’t need it, Eben. We can get *drunk on Denise’s beauty and charm. *

DENISE *(laughing) *

I may throw up. *

EBEN *I won’t write you guys up tonight -- *just don’t give me another reason till *New Year’s, okay? *

AARON *Yes sir -- we’ll be good -- *

The party walks away with Denise laughing -- *

OMITTED8-10 8-10

EXT./INT. AIRPORT ROAD/BILLY’S 4X4 - NIGHT11 11 *

Stella stares crestfallen at a SINGLE JET, capacity 120, *ROARING OFF OVERHEAD -- *

STELLANo, no, no, no -- !

BILLY(sympathetic)

There’ll be someone you can bunk with for the month --

STELLADon’t start, okay?

10.


BILLYNo, I meant Lucy, or Denise, or hey, Peggy and me could even move the girls into one room and you --

STELLAI can’t stay here! I’ve got bills to put in the mail -- my plants’ll die!

BILLYWell, you can call somebody from our place to handle some o’ that, cantcha? You gotta know someone in Anchorage who can help?

(off Stella, not happy)C’mon, it’ll work out. Course, the price of rent at my place might be explaining to me and Peggy what the heck’s wrong with you and Eben --

STELLA *Not enough time this century to cover that, Billy --

OMITTED12-13 12-13

EXT. RIIS HOME - NIGHT14 14 *

Parties are over now, the streets quiet. STEAM still rises from the snow where Riis’s dogs died. JOHN RIIS, 40s, and *wife ALLY, 30s, wiry and athletic, mourn with Eben.

ALLYWhat sick jerk would DO this?

RIIS *Every kennel -- every dog we had.

EBENFight with anybody lately, John?

RIIS *(shaking his head)

Somebody always freaks out a little once the sun’s gone, but it usually takes two or three weeks.

ALLYI’ll kill them. I’ll kill them.

11.


EBEN(examining the scene)

This wasn’t done long enough ago that you could get to the airport after. Whoever did this -- is still in town.

OFF Eben, troubled --

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT15 15

JAKE, 15, plays Risk against himself, moving from one side of the board to the other. Bright, pale, he’s like the love child of David Byrne and Elvis Costello. As he plays --

JAKEIt’d be easier if you played, Helen -- *

Across the room, HELEN, late 60s, sits at the radio console. She doesn’t like you to know that she’s fighting cancer; a positive attitude is one of her weapons against it.

HELENI don’t really care for games like that, if you want to know the truth. Don’t you learn a lot when you play against yourself?

JAKEYeah, yeah, yeah. Playing yourself is the ultimate blahdy-blah-blah --

Helen nods toward the entering Eben, laboriously sheds his winter gear --

HELENTry your brother.

Eben appraises the gameboard as he takes a blast from an albuterol INHALER -- something he only does among family --

EBEN“The Classic Game of Global Domination.” I’m a little jammed today --

Helen hands Eben some reports --

HELENWhile you were busy with John Riis? *Carter and Wilson called about a vandalism problem at the Utilidor --

Eben sighs, laboriously puts everything back on --

12.


EBENDamn. What the hell’s goin’ on?

He heads out with a nod to Jake, instructions for Helen -- *

EBEN (cont’d) *Call Point Hope and Wainwright, see if they’re having any troubles --

EXT. UTILIDOR - NIGHT16 16

THE UTILIDOR SEWAGE PLANT sits on the edge of town: a PUMP HOUSE and TWO TOWERING STORAGE TANKS. From the pump house comes CARTER DAVIES, 50s, Santa Claus build, in a Tourism Bureau T-shirt depicting a license plate reading “ALASKA B4UDIE.” He calls to the burly JAYKO TWINS, PAUL AND XAVIER (both 36), cleaning a large SEWAGE PIPE some distance away --

CARTERGuys, you can’t get that pipe fixed tonight. Seal it off from the town and come back tomorrow --

The twins nod and seal off the pipe; Eben walks from his 4x4 --

EBENLord, Carter. It’s gotta be ten below.

WILSON BULOSAN joins Carter in the doorway, his down vest reading “POLAR TOURS.” Filipino, early 30s, normally *gregarious but now troubled, he gestures inside --

WILSONYou need to see this, Eben --

INT. PUMP HOUSE, UTILIDOR - NIGHT17 17

Eben follows Carter and Wilson through the pump house, where Carter monitors the sewage system. His control panel is adorned with knickknacks and photos, especially a PHOTO of Carter with his WIFE AND FOUR KIDS. Eben examines it --

EBENCan’t your wife send you a sweater or two? And bring the whole tribe back *here while she’s at it. *

CARTER(shrugs diffidently)

They’ll come when they’re ready, I guess --

13.


EBEN *(gentle advice) *

A family oughta be together, Carter -- *

Carter nods in quiet resignation, acknowledging his friend but *changing the subject -- *

CARTER *So I’ve found all kindsa garbage here over the years. Blue jeans, bikes. Sometimes I can yank ‘em out before the Muffin Monster chews ‘em to shit --

WILSON *The Muffin Monster?

CARTERMy little nickname for it --

OMITTED18 18

INT. MUFFIN MONSTER - NIGHT19 19

Eben, Carter and Wilson stand before a HIGH-TORQUE, FOUR-SHAFT SHREDDER, a device that can literally turn steel drums into confetti. This is the Muffin Monster, where all the pipes lead, disposing of Barrow’s garbage and sewage. The razor-edged shafts spin steadily. Carter pulls up a trashcan --

CARTERSaw Wilson’s logo, pulled this stuff out before it got totally shredded --

Wilson angrily shows Eben a pile of chewed-up debris -- seat belts, fragments of passenger seats, dashboard controls -- a couple of which bear the “POLAR TOURS” logo -- *

EBENYou keep your copter under lock and key, don’t you, Wilson?

WILSONYep, I put it in drydock when the tourists headed south. Haven’t looked at it for days.

EBEN(examines the damage)

Could you fix it up if you needed to?

14.


WILSONNot without parts from Anchorage. This is my living, Eben. Why would someone rip the hell out of my bird?

Wilson takes some of the debris and angrily tosses it into the Muffin Monster -- which chews it all up with STARTLING SPEED.

EXT. DISH TOWER - NIGHT20 20

An impressive SATELLITE DISH TOWER at the north end of town. Bristling with ANTENNAE AND CELL RECEIVERS. The product of big time oil money. The Trans-Alaska PIPELINE runs past the base of the tower, beyond the barbed fence --

It’s starting to SNOW, the white flecks swirling about in the darkness. TRACK THROUGH THE SNOW, AROUND THE TOWER --

A DEAD-WHITE FACE FLASHES IN THE STORM -- and is gone before we can be sure we saw it at all --

INT. DISH TOWER - NIGHT21 21

GUS LAMBERT, late 60s, portly, sits at a control panel, WHISTLES an old swing band tune to himself --

SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE -- WE HEAR A DISTANT, ETHEREAL HOWL, ARCING UP THE TOP OF THE SCALE --

Gus stops; he’s never heard anything like that before. Still, he’d ignore it until THERE’S AN ELECTRONIC SIZZLE -- HALF THE DIALS ON THE CONTROL PANEL BLINK OUT. Gus grabs his parka, buttons up, and heads for the door --


Snow falls. Gus opens the door, walks out into the dark, shivering as his breath clouds around him. Behind him: THE CRUNCH OF A FOOTFALL IN SNOW. He whirls, shining his flashlight everywhere in the eerie silence, but sees nothing --

Gus pushes forward into the darkness, as a SHAPE FLASHES BEHIND HIM, unseen by us -- he spins again as there’s ANOTHER CRUNCH in the snow. He exploring for the source of the sound, but there’s still nothing. He’s tensing, realizing he doesn’t want to be out here, heading back for the building --

When he comes across several lines of FOOTPRINTS crossing the path back to the dish tower --

Quivering now, following the footprints with his flashlight, Gus comes across a pair of GLEAMING BLACK EYES sizing him up in the darkness --

15.


Then they’re gone. He sweeps the beam urgently like a searchlight -- when a SHADOW CROSSES THE BEAM -- MUCH CLOSER TO HIM THIS TIME -- AND THEN IT’S GONE.

Gus works to catch his breath -- what the hell is going on here? Then from right over his shoulder, A LOW GUTTERAL CHUCKLE, HARSH AND HUNGRY --

Gus drops the flashlight and the beam shines into his terrified face. He’s surrounded by a GROUP OF SHADOWS, figures that loom menacingly toward him --

GUSWho -- who are you people -- ?!

WHOOOOM -- A SHADOW RIPS A TALONED HAND ACROSS GUS’ NECK --

Blood arcs through the darkness as Gus staggers backward -- and ONE OF THE SHADOWS LUNGES AT GUS. THERE IS A COARSE, SAWING SOUND as Gus’s head is wrenched back and forth, the creature SAWING ITS WAY THROUGH GUS’S NECK as they fall -- and then we hear Gus’s neck SNAP as they hit the ice, and he is rendered nothing but prey --

OMITTED23 23

EXT. IKOS DINER - NIGHT24 24

A little neon oasis in the snowfall --

STRANGER (O.S.)(WHISPERS)

No whiskey? No rum?

INT. IKOS DINER - NIGHT25 25

LUCY IKOS, sturdy, late 60s, stares uncertainly at the tense Stranger sitting at her diner counter. The Stranger WILL ONLY EVER SPEAK IN A SIBILANT, SLIMY WHISPER --

LUCYAlcohol’s illegal this month -- folks have a hard enough time in the dark without booze making it worse --

STRANGERForget the liquor, Lucy. Bring me a bowl of raw hamburger.

LUCYYou can only get meat two ways around here -- frozen and burnt.

16.


STRANGERYou don’t give me what I want to eat. What I want to drink.

He runs a nail across her cheek threateningly. Eben claps a hand on the Stranger’s shoulder --

EBENThat’s enough, pal. Leave the woman be, time to hit the road.

The Stranger rises, out to intimidate -- he’s a bit taller than Eben, but Eben stands his ground without a flinch --

STRANGERWhat’s wrong with a man wanting a little fresh meat?

EBENIf you refuse to leave, I’ll escort you out of here myself.

STRANGER(looms over Eben)

I’d like to see that.

A GUN BARREL presses against the back of the Stranger’s head; STELLA IS HERE, with Billy behind her, as she pulls back the hammer on her weapon --

STELLAI would too -- but then Lucy’d have to clean up after Eben kicked your ass, it’s more trouble than you’re worth.

As Eben takes out cuffs for the Stranger, he takes in Stella’s presence -- too cool to react, but his energy noticeably different as he looks to Stella’s gun with a raised eyebrow --

EBENFire marshal’s office lets you carry that?

Stella’s also different being around Eben, but she knows the best defense is a good offense --

STELLAFunny thing, I never asked them.

Eben grins to himself as he cuffs the Stranger; it’s clear he respects how tough Stella is. He looks to Billy --

17.


EBENMy deputy could’ve helped me here --

BILLY(an affable shrug)

Yeah, but, well, Eben, it’s Stella.

Eben nods; Billy has a point. He tries to keep things diplomatic with Stella --

EBEN Missed your plane? That sucks. Where are you gonna stay?

STELLABilly and Peggy are putting me up.

EBEN(that sucks, too)

Well. Talk to you sometime, I guess.

It’s awkward, and luckily for Eben, he’s got work to do. But Stella shoots a look at Billy that maybe she’ll leave him *here, then looks to Eben as he leads the cuffed Stranger out --*

STELLAMaybe I’ll come along -- say hi to *Jake and Helen -- ?

Eben’s got mixed feelings about it, can’t figure out a reason to say yes, can’t figure out a reason to say no --

INT. EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT25A 25A

Eben drives while Stella rides shotgun, with the Stranger cuffed and seething in the back. They are silent for several moments, neither of them ready for small talk. Finally --

EBEN-- suddenly there’s more vandalism here than in the last three years --

Silence. Finally --

STELLADon’t you know how to take care of this town without me?

It’s one of those jokes that hit so wrong; Eben’s answer could take a day and a half. Finally Stella gets to why she really came along --

18.


STELLA (cont’d)Look, I didn’t want to mention it in public, but I think somebody screwed with the brakes on the ditch driller -- *

Silence. Finally --

EBENHell of a day.

STRANGERJust wait.

Eben silences the Stranger with a glare, shoots a glance to Stella: let’s not talk now, for God’s sake.


CELL BARS SLAM in the Stranger’s face as Eben locks him up and questions him, Jake watching warily in the b.g.

EBENYou don’t work at the refinery. You’d have been seen flying in. When’d you get here?

(off his silence)We’ve got all night --

The Stranger smirks, raising an eyebrow: do they? Suddenly Helen bangs at her monitor --

HELENOh, criminy! Computer’s down.

EBENI’ll call Gus --

(lifting the phone)Phone’s dead, too.

Eben SLAMS the receiver down in frustration as the Stranger WHISPERS WITH A SMIRK --

STRANGERMr. and Mrs. Sheriff. So sweet. So helpless against what’s coming.

Jake pulls into a corner, freaked out. Stella reassures him --

STELLAHe’s just trying to get our blood up.

JAKEIt’s working.

19.


EBENWe’ve got better things to worry about. I’ll check on Gus.

STRANGERCheck on Gus. Board the windows. Try to hide. They’re coming and this time they’ll take me with them, honor me for all I’ve done -- !

EBENWho are “they?”

The Stranger stares steadily at Eben, not giving an inch. Jake tries to focus on his game. BEHIND HIM, THROUGH THE WINDOW, A DEAD-WHITE FACE APPEARS FOR A FLASH. THEN IT’S GONE, just as Jake turns, sensing it --

LIGHTS BLACK OUT -- throwing the room into darkness. The Stranger WHISPERS again, surer and surer of himself --

STRANGERBoard the windows -- try to hide --

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT27 27

Amidst the snowfall, the twinkling streetlights BLINK OUT --

OMITTED28 28 *

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT - RESUME29 29 *

Jake opens the front door in the darkness, ready to head out --*

JAKE *I’ll hit the generator -- *

Eben nods, ransacks a drawer in Helen’s desk -- *

EBENTake a flash -- here -- *

HELENI’ll get them --

But before Helen can intercede, Eben lifts up a flashlight and shines it on a plastic bag filled with pot. He’s baffled --

EBENWhat the hell is this?

20.


JAKE(off Helen)

Pot. It helps with her cancer. She’s got a little greenhouse at home.

HELEN(lightly)

Didn’t tell you, didn’t want you to have to arrest me.

Eben shakes his head, perplexed, hands a second flash to Stella as he looks back to Jake --

EBENNow I get why you moved into Helen’s *spare room -- *

JAKE *(protests too much) *

Noooo, I just thought you and Stella *oughta have privacy -- *

EBEN *Yeah, that’s worked out real well. *I’m heading for the cell tower. *

JAKE *(off the Stranger’s grin)

We have to stay here with him?

STELLA(a good pal for Jake)

Sure, we can sit here and mock him.

Jake beams appreciatively -- we can see he’s glad to have *Stella back around. Eben notes it, too, but he’s too focused *on his yellow alert to respond -- *

EBENHelen, as soon as the lines are up, *get Billy over here. Stay on the *walkie-talkie with me till the power’s *back --

Helen nods, as the Stranger grins in expectation --


Snowfall. Eben emerges warily from the 4x4, flashlight and pistol ready. He rounds a corner and stops, pale --

The chain-link fence is down, twisted and bent in the snow. Eben pulls his weapon, tensing --

21.


EBEN GUS -- ?!

Silence. He presses forward, seeing the satellite dish pulled down, broken -- the antennas bent and snapped, WIRES SPARKING.

EBEN (cont’d)What the hell -- ?

Eben continues to search. His flashlight finds a trail of FROZEN BLOOD in the snow, red and glossy. Following the trail, Eben finds GUS LAMBERT’S BODY, decapitated and twisted in a tangle of wires and bent steel.

CONTINUING THE SWEEP WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT -- EBEN SEES A POLE STUCK IN THE ICE -- ATOP WHICH SITS GUS’S HEAD, WIDE-EYED IN PAINFUL DEATH.

Fighting not to vomit, Eben shines the flash everywhere, but he is alone. His breath is heavy, AUDIBLE in the ominous silence. He CLICKS his walkie-talkie --

EBEN (cont’d)Come in, come in, Helen -- *

HELEN (O.S.)(ON WALKIE-TALKIE)

Roger, Eben. What happened there?

EBEN(mind racing)

We’re being cut off.

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT31 31

Snowfall. As he drives, Eben’s voice BLASTS OVER A SPEAKER:

EBEN-- Sheriff Eben Oleson! This is not a *drill! Stay in your homes! Lock your doors! Load your firearms! I repeat, Barrow is under curfew -- !

He slows as the 4x4 is approached by a small clutch of worried residents -- the Jayko twins and the ROBBINS FAMILY -- FRANK, MICHELLE, teenage LARRY and seven-year-old GAIL. Eben rolls down his window, working for a voice of solid and calm authority even as his own pulse is racing --

EBEN (cont’d)Frank, Michelle, you got your generator running?

(off their nod)

22.

(MORE)


Tell anyone without a jenny, meet at the Diner, stay with Lucy, she’ll have *heat and power there. Don’t anyone *wander off alone. Get inside, don’t let in anyone you don’t know. And if you’ve got guns -- load ‘em.

INT. RIIS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT32 32 *

John Riis, mourning, powers up his home generator as he hears *EBEN OUTSIDE --

EBEN (O.S.)Lock your doors! Load your firearms --

EBEN’S VOICE FADES AWAY, lights FLICKER TO LIFE as John pulls *out his shotgun --

INT. RIIS DINING ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS32A 32A *

Ally calls to the next room, lighting candles for suppertime --*

ALLYLet’s have dinner, John -- please? It’ll take our minds off --

She sits, closes her eyes a moment, still hurt by the loss of her dogs. Then she opens her eyes, resolving to move ahead --

SMAAASSSSHH -- ! THE WINDOW SHATTERS AND A DARK FIGURE HURTLES INTO THE ROOM, hidden for a moment behind the table. Ally freezes in panic: what the hell is she alone with -- ?!

INT. RIIS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT32B 32B *

Hearing the SMASH, John takes his gun and runs to Ally --

INT. RIIS DINING ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS32C 32C *

-- seeing Ally SCREAMING, PULLED OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW -- !

EXT. RIIS HOME - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER33 33 *

Snowfall. Panicked, Riis emerges and PUMPS HIS SHOTGUN, looks *this way and that, squinting his way through the snowfall -- WHERE is her SCREAM coming from? He searches the ground for tracks, but the snow’s already filling in his own footsteps. He circles about, more and more anxious -- and loses his breath as he sees there’s still a faint trail leading to THE CRAWLSPACE UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE --

He kneels, points his gun under the house -- and SOMETHING GRABS HIM, RIPS A SCAR ACROSS HIS FACE.

23.EBEN (cont’d)


HE EMPTIES BOTH BARRELS INTO THE FIGURE -- only to GASP as the SHOTGUN IS TORN FROM HIS HANDS, tossed away and lost in a snowbank --

He drops to the ground, HISSING IN PAIN and blinded by the snow, clutching his right leg -- the calf has been broken --

Riis clears his eyes, drags himself crying in pain toward *Ally: SHE’S SCREAMING and fighting like a banshee against a *shadowy figure. Riis lunges for her, grabs her hand -- *

RIIS *ALLY -- !!!

But the creature easily drags her away -- Riis tries to hang *on, which pulls him underneath the house himself until he can no longer maintain his grip --

As Ally vanishes in the dark, SCREAMING --

ALLYJOHHHHHHHN -- !!

Riis watches her vanish in the distance underneath the *neighbors’ houses. His eyes are full of loss and pain --


Aaron and Gabe face off as Denise watches, laughing --

AARONAll right! Rock, paper, scissors, whoever wins, we go to his place --

DENISEC’mon, let’s DO this and get moving --

The guys wind up -- one, two -- Aaron produces a rock, Gabe flashes his fingers open like a little explosion --

GABENuclear explosion, it burns up rock, paper AND scissors, I win --

DENISETalk about desperate --

GABEOkay, we’ll do it the boring way --

Aaron and Gabe face off again -- one, two -- AND SUDDENLY GABE IS GONE, WHIPPED AWAY INTO THE DARKNESS WITH A CRY --

24.


DENISEGabe -- ?!!

Aaron stares for a moment in sheer shock -- Denise, frightened, backs away a couple of steps --

AARON GABE -- ?!

Aaron’s call is interrupted by a GNASHING AND TEARING -- a vicious, viscous ripping as GABE SCREAMS A DEATHCRY.

Denise bolts away -- not needing another clue --

AS GABE’S BODY IS THROWN BACK LIKE A RAG DOLL -- SANS THROAT. He keeps convulsing because he hasn’t figured out he’s dead --

Aaron’s paralyzed between staying to fight and running -- AS TWO SHADOWS LOOM UP BEHIND HIM --

OMITTED35 35 *

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT36 36 *

Weak lights from the generator. Jake plays Risk; Stella and *Helen have reluctantly joined in the game --

STRANGERNo way out of town. Nobody to come *help. Who’ll go first, I wonder? *

JAKESHUT UP.

HELENIgnore him, Jake.

STRANGERWhich of you’ll they take first? The woman who thinks a gun’ll help her? The kid? Or the old gal? *

JAKESHUT UP!!

Jake loses it, throws a game token at the Stranger, who picks *it up, gloating -- *

STRANGER Thanks for the plastic. I can snap this apart, use it to pick the lock --

25.


The Stranger’s doing no such thing -- he’s just idly playing with the token, teasing Jake and leading him on --

JAKENo, you won’t --

STELLAJake, he can’t -- !

Before Stella can stop him, Jake heads for the cell -- *unprepared as THE STRANGER GRABS JAKE AND PULLS HIM TIGHT *AGAINST THE CELL BARS --

JAKE GASPS IN PAIN, trying to call out but unable to get his breath as the Stranger slowly strangles him, HISSING:

STRANGER The keys. Now.

Stella seethes, hating this deal but having no choice. As Helen trembles, Stella picks up Jake’s dropped flashlight and reaches for the keyring --

STRANGER (cont’d)(as JAKE GASPS)

Better hurry --

The keys CLANG as Stella reaches for the lock, opening the door --

STRANGER (cont’d)Now back away --

As Jake’s eyes bulge, Stella steps back, seething and waiting *for some window to act. The Stranger moves an arm around the *cell door, ready to swing Jake around as a shield --

Just as Eben FIRES HIS PISTOL THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE FRONT DOOR -- the Stranger drops to the floor as Eben enters --

Jake falls as well, with Helen embracing him --

HELEN Jake -- !

Eben takes the keys from Stella, opens the cell and stands over the prone form of the Stranger, soberly absorbing what he’s done. He looks to Helen, concerned for her -- *

EBEN *Do you need to go home? Take Jake with you?

26.


HELEN(not sure yet)

-- what happened with Gus?

EBEN(searching for the words)

Someone -- took him apart. (nods toward the Stranger)

The same day this loon shows up.

Eben checks the magazine in his pistol, as Stella paces restlessly, ready for action --

EBEN (cont’d)If everyone followed curfew, his friends won’t have many places to hide. I’ll find Billy, then work our *way from South Street toward the *pipeline --

STELLAI’ll join you, too -- *

EBEN(thanks, but --)

I can handle it.

STELLARight now, you, me and Billy are the *authorities. Be stupid not to take more help. Whatever your faults, *you’re not stupid.

Eben knows she’s right, not going to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it. He looks to Helen --

HELENWe’ve got the walkie-talkies, we’ll be *fine.

(Eben keeps watching her)We’ll be fine.

Eben nods in appreciation to Helen, turns curtly to Stella --

EBENYou drive, I’m riding shotgun.

Stella swallows her temptation to talk back --

EXT./INT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT37 37

Snowfall. Stella drives through empty, dark streets, glancing now and then at Eben, careful not to let him see her doing so.

27.


When she focuses on the road, Eben glances back at her, also not giving any ground. But when he returns his gaze to the road, peering through the snow, he suddenly lifts his gun --

EBENStop the truck.

STELLAWhat?

EBENSTOP THE FUCKING TRUCK.

She brakes quickly, senses on high alert, knowing where Eben’s tone comes from. They step out, searching down the street, but there’s nothing visible in the snowy haze --

EBEN (cont’d)I know I saw something --

Stella knows Eben too well to doubt him --

STELLANight goggles still in the back?

Eben nods curtly, still staring dead ahead, straining his eyes through the blackness. Stella reaches in the back of the truck, retrieves the goggles, takes a look down the road --

POV GOGGLES: The dark snowy landscape washed in green -- and deep within in -- SHADOWS MOVING, COMING RIGHT AT THEM --

Stella jumps and the goggles SMASH on the road --

STELLA (cont’d)Get in the truck.

EBENWhat?

STELLAGET IN THE FUCKING TRUCK.

This time it’s Eben who knows Stella too well to doubt. They clamber in, Stella turning the ignition and skidding off down the road in the opposite direction --

INT. EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT38 38

Eben stares backward -- we don’t see what he sees, but it’s deeply unsettling him --

EBENHow many of them ARE there -- ?

28.


WHOMP! Something HITS the roof of the 4x4. Stella swerves as Eben reaches for his gun --

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! The roof is POUNDED as MASSIVE DENTS appear above their heads. Eben’s window SHATTERS --

He reaches out and aims his pistol at the roof, FIRING --

Something TUMBLES OFF THE ROOF, a shadow visible to Stella in her rearview mirror rolling away in the road behind them as *she floors it away -- *

STELLA *(breathless) *

What. The Hell. Was that. *

OMITTED39 39 *

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER40 40 *

Snowfall. Eben stands in the open door, shotgun cocked, as Stella drives. They pass a deserted, ransacked HERTZ SPORT & AMMO, and then a quaint CHURCH -- doors open, lit from inside by a still-running generator, with the decapitated body of the MINISTER lying in the open doorway. Far in the distance -- are those GUNSHOTS? A SCREAM -- ?

STELLAEben -- ?!

EBEN(fighting for calm)

Where’s it coming from? WHERE’S IT COMING FROM?

They grimace, straining their ears against the storm. Eben picks up the WALKIE-TALKIE, CLICKS IT ALIVE --

EBEN (cont’d)(INTO WALKIE-TALKIE)

Come in, Helen, take the keys, lock *yourself and Jake in a cell where nobody can --

Helen’s SCREAM INTERRUPTS, CRACKLING OVER THE WALKIE-TALKIE --

Eben looks to Stella in shock, doesn’t need to say a word as she FLOORS IT, fishtailing the 4x4 for a moment before getting it under control and driving back to the station --

29.



Weak lights from the generator. The door is blasted off its *hinges; the windows are shattered and the furniture is tossed *around. Eben and Stella move in, weapons drawn -- *

EBENNo --

On the floor, Helen’s body is twisted and bloody -- across the room, her severed head looks over at them sadly. Eben leans back on a desk, short of breath staggered by the shock of losing his grandmother -- he fumbles for his inhaler and gives himself a BLAST --

STELLAJAKE -- ?! JAKE!!

They sweep the station: no sign of Jake. They appraise the *room, wheels turning. The Stranger’s corpse lies exactly as they left it in the cell, untouched. They look back on the station from inside the cell -- the door’s open, but still they feel trapped --

STELLA (cont’d)Could Jake have gotten away -- ?

Eben walks to the open doorway, seething at how his town’s spiralling out of control --

EBENWe’ll find out.

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT42 42

Snowfall. Stella drives them off into the barren streets with their ALARM LIGHTS FLASHING, as --

DOWN THE STREET BEHIND THEM -- figures gather in a desolate intersection, watching. When we can catch a glimpse of them through the shadows, they are gaunt, dead-pale, of varying heights and ages from young to seasoned to ancient. Their breath does not cloud in the cold. They wear blacks, greys and browns, their clothing old and worn, most of it scavenged from the dead. Their eyes are ENTIRELY BLACK, diamond-hard and shiny so that the snow sometimes reflects in them. They walk like humans would -- if humans were nothing but muscle and hunger and cruel cunning.

Seventeen of them swarm around the alpha leader of the group -- MARLOW. Mid 30s, feral, ragged, relentless. He cracks the frozen blood on his face, lets it fall as he HISSES in an ancient, glottal, unrecognizable language --

30.


MARLOW(cry of smug triumph)

IRIS agrees -- drawn, ashen, Marlow’s personal bootlicker --

IRIS(sycophancy, hunger)

ZURIAL -- not as tall as Marlow, but more craven and famished, admires the town. JUST TWO LINES ARE SUBTITLED:

ZURIAL(There’s enough feasting here to keep us strong for a year, Marlow --)

Marlow looks to the town, coldly dispassionate.

MARLOW (We should’ve done this ages ago.)

INT. IKOS DINER - NIGHT43 43

Warmed and lit by a generator, a gathering place for refugees. Denise breaks open the doors, breathless from fleeing --

DENISEWhat ARE they?

Wilson Bulosan, in a booth with his father ISAAC, 70s, shakes his head simply as he looks to a panicking Doug Hertz --

WILSONWe don’t know.

ISAAC(dazed, from Alzheimer’s)

Wilson -- I want to go home --

Wilson pats his father soothingly as Doug OVERLAPS in frenzy --

DOUGYou shoot ‘em and they keep coming!

CARTERHow’s that possible?

DOUGI, I don’t, maybe they’re coked up on PCP, something so they don’t feel bullets? I only got away because they found Kay Lopez, I couldn’t save her! They killed every sled dog in town --

31.


DENISEThey took Aaron and Gabe; they’re strong guys --

Jake RASPS from a corner, huddling, a poster child for PTSD --

JAKEThey took Helen Shuster -- *

CARTERReverend Pfeiffer, Malekai Hamm -- !

LUCY(terrified)

John and Ally Riis, their house is all *shattered! Doc Miller’s, too!

Eben and Stella, framed in the doorway --

EBENKill the lights --

Panicked, Lucy shuts off the lights. Eben walks to his *brother, places a steadying hand on Jake’s shoulder as he *looks around, does a tactical assessment of the diner -- *

EBEN (cont’d)Has anyone seen Billy -- ? *

(off the group’s silence) *You can’t stay here. All the windows, the open space --

DENISEWho the hell are these people, Eben?

DOUG(over; hitting hysteria)

What do they want?!!

EBENWe’ll figure that out after we get all of you someplace safe. Maybe the high school, or the clinic --

STELLAThey already hit the church; they’ll scope out any public place.

Eben shoots a quick look at Stella, surprised to be contradicted even as he knows she’s right --

CARTERThere’s a generator at the Utilidor --

32.


EBEN(considers)

If we’d headed there when this all started, we might’ve made it. But it’s way out on the edge of town; a group this size, we’d be spotted before we got there. We need someplace close to hide. Now.

They rack their brains. Doug watches them anxiously, sweating in hope that somebody has an answer --

DENISECharlie Kelso’s attic. There’s a pull-down ladder, you can’t tell it’s there, it’d be tight but we could fit.

STELLA(shaking her head)

He would’ve boarded up his home before he left.

EBEN(this time HE’S right)

Which is why it’s a good idea. We can pull down a board to get in, then tack it back -- *

Eben searches the room -- who’s the most stable, who does he *trust most right now? He settles on his friend Carter -- *

EBEN (cont’d) *Carter, lead people close to the *buildings, roll under crawlspaces if you hear anything. Go straight to Charlie’s attic till I get there.

CARTERWhere’ll you be?

EBENLoading up with all the flares and beartraps a 4x4 can carry. SOMETHING’s gotta slow ‘em down.

Stella follows him toward the door -- their talk now private --

STELLAI’ll cover your back.

EBEN(can’t resist it)

Sure you won’t run away to Anchorage?

33.


STELLA(that was a low blow)

Cut me a break.

Eben considers, nods grimly; for now they’re in a truce. Together they head out, determined --

EXT. CRAWLSPACE - NIGHT44 44

Snowfall. Carter leads Denise, Doug, Lucy, Jake, the Bulosans under a house, hissing as they creep forward --

CARTERToo fast -- no sudden moves --

JAKEI’m cold --

CARTERYou’ll be colder dead.

AN ICICLE -- FORMED OF FROZEN BLOOD -- suddenly falls from the edge of a house and SMACKS to the ground -- everyone freezes, losing a day of life. Then they press on --

EXT. IKOS DINER - NIGHT45 45

Snowfall. Eben and Stella recon, then hustle into their 4x4 --


Snowfall. Stella reaches for the keys -- a moment of hesitation as they realize that sound may be their enemy as well. THE ENGINE’s unsettlingly loud as Stella pulls away --


Snowfall. They turn a corner and drive down Ransom Street -- when suddenly they’re JERKED FORWARD against the steering wheel -- the vehicle’s come to a dead halt.

STELLAWe’re not moving --

It’s true. Warily they look behind them --

EXT. STREETS/EBEN’S 4X4 - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS48 48

SNOWFALL. MARLOW, IRIS AND OTHER CREATURES HOLD ONTO THE BACK OF THE JEEP, LIFTING UP THE REAR TIRES --

Stella FLOORS IT -- but she only spins the front wheels in the road, while the rear wheels are lifted higher and higher.

34.


The creatures finally up-end the 4x4, turn it on its grille. Falling into the dash, Eben and Stella reach for firearms --

One of the creatures rips Stella’s door open -- she FIRES A SHOT THAT CLIPS THE CREATURE ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD. But while anyone else would be reeling, this creature’s only stunned by the shot -- its jaws are still open, slavering --

Marlow and Iris finish tipping the 4x4 over -- Eben and Stella are jolted and knocked off-balance --

The creatures SMASH Eben’s window -- safety glass blinds him as his gun is grabbed and hurled away into the snow --

STELLAEBENNNNNN -- !!!

He looks over to see Marlow and Iris dragging Stella from her side of the 4x4, as A GRITTY ROAR RISES FROM NOWHERE --

Eben lunges for her desperately, but he’s being pulled out his own side of the 4x4. Their eyes lock: they’re about to die --

Until the GRITTY ROAR CLIMAXES: a SNOWPLOW careens out of nowhere, SLAMS Stella’s attackers into a brick wall --

Beau Brower is behind the wheel. He reaches out, hauls Stella in. She stretches for her dropped gun, but there’s no time --

BEAUQuick, goddamn it!

Eben’s attackers turn toward the snowplow -- Eben scrambles and grabs onto the passenger side as Beau FLOORS IT --

Eben and Stella are both still clambering inside the cab as Beau’s driving off, he can’t linger an extra second for them. As they land beside Beau, Eben and Stella instinctively look at each other, eyes wide -- they’ve just seen each other nearly killed, and it’s hit them each where they live --

As the other creatures scramble from the snow, one of Eben’s attackers has latched onto the rear bumper and starts to climb toward the front of the snowplow as Beau ROARS AWAY --

EXT./INT. ROGERS AVENUE/SNOWPLOW - NIGHT49 49

Snowfall. Beau turns a corner as Eben slams his door shut at last -- but the creature is slowly, hungrily climbing toward the front of the vehicle --

EBENThanks, Beau --

35.


BEAUWho’s gonna write me tickets if you get fragged?

Eben nods, a little too distracted to acknowledge the point any more than that, as Beau checks the sideview mirrors -- all clear. Then he checks his rearview --

THE IMAGE OF THE CREATURE’S EYES AND FANGS FILLS THE REARVIEW!

Beau freaks for a moment -- then WHIPS the snowplow under a LOW-HANGING CANOPY, SHEARING OFF THE CREATURE as he rounds another corner, not sure he’s believing what he’s just done --

INT. SNOWPLOW - NIGHT50 50

Snowfall. Eben WHEEZES, fighting for breath, but with the ROAR of the snowplow, Beau doesn’t notice --

EBENWe’ve gotta ditch this thing, it just calls them!

BEAUAnd go where?

EBENWe know a place. Stop here -- !

EXT. STREETS/SNOWPLOW - NIGHT50A 50A

Snowfall. TRAVEL OVER, as Beau SLAMS the truck to a halt, to see THE THREE OF THEM SCURRY FROM THE SNOWPLOW AND DISAPPEAR IN A CRAWLSPACE UNDERNEATH A HOME --

CONTINUE TRAVELING for an overview of the whole town -- the majority of the buildings dark with only the occasional generator offering light here and there. The streets are littered with overturned cars on fire, dead bodies lie broken and bloody everywhere. Here and there, we see severed heads on posts -- and the shadowy creatures stalking the streets. It’s hell erupting on earth --

TITLE: DAY 1.


Snowfall. Eben leads Beau and Stella cautiously ahead, Beau brandishing his shotgun -- their only weapon left.

36.


EXT. KELSO HOME - NIGHT52 52

Snowfall. Across the street from Kelso’s house, Eben checks for creatures, while Stella and Beau press up against the side of a building --

EBENOn three.

He counts off one finger, two, then they run for it. As they carom through the snow, the Kelso house looks sooo far away --

Stella gets there first, uses her car key to pry loose the board over the front door. As it swings loose, Eben and Beau move warily through the front door --

INT. KELSO HOME - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS53 53

Eben and Beau burst inside, breathless, as Stella pulls the board shut. They stand silently by the door, listening for any trace of pursuers. Eben WHISPERS --

EBENWe can’t try the attic just yet. We’ve gotta make sure we weren’t seen, we didn’t lead them here.

They wait uneasily for a moment --

EBEN (cont’d)Quietly go through the house, see what we find --

OMITTED54-56 54-56

INT. KELSO HOME - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER57 57

Beau shows off a pair of old kids’ walkie-talkies --

BEAUKids here left something good --

Eben joins Beau in the hall, carrying canned goods, as Stella arrives an armful of candles and a propane heater --

STELLAAnd from the master bedroom --

She produces a PISTOL. Eben holsters it doubtfully -- knowing it won’t help, but it couldn’t hurt, when --

THHHHUMMMPP -- a sudden sound from OUTSIDE. The three freeze, look to each other --

37.


STELLA (cont’d)(tentatively)

Snow falling off the roof --

They wait, wait -- no further sound. Eben sets down his loot, inspects the hallway ceiling --

EBENIt’s hidden well --

He pulls at a moulding -- a ladder lowers into place. Cocking the pistol, he places a foot on the rungs --

Carter’s face slowly edges into view -- shuddering with relief as he sees it’s Eben down below --

INT. ATTIC - NIGHT58 58

Warm with the amber glow from the propane heater, Stella and Eben huddle with the survivors reeling with shock -- Denise, Doug, Beau, Carter, Lucy, Jake, Wilson and Isaac.

EBENHow did you know about this attic, Denise?

DENISE(a beat)

Does it matter?

EBENI need the odds someone else could know about it, too.

DENISEUm. Charlie hid me here once. When his wife came home early from work.

The others nod, unwilling to judge. Jake frowns, a little confused. Stella finally settles the matter --

STELLAGlad he did.

JAKE(off the canisters)

How long will these things last?

EBENMaybe a week. Maybe a little longer.

JAKEThen what?

38.


EBENThen we find more.

LUCYAnd maybe those people give up and go elsewhere.

STELLAWhere are they going to go, exactly?

WILSON(as that sinks in)

I don’t think they ARE people.

JAKE(agreeing)

I saw them -- feed on Helen. They *wanted her blood. They’re like vampires, y’know?

STELLAVampires are made up, Jake.

JAKESome of them had, like, fangs.

STELLAMaybe they think they’re vampires. Maybe they filed their teeth down and they’re some sort of cult.

DOUG(fighting hysteria)

They don’t fall when you shoot them!

BEAUHell, neither do I.

EBEN(agreeing)

Just because they’re as stubborn as Beau doesn’t make them supernatural. Look, I don’t care what they are. I just care what we do about them.

DENISEThere won’t be any help for a month.

DOUG(overlaps, despairing)

Ohhhhh God --

39.


LUCYWe can’t last that long -- !!

Eben rises, determined to put down the growing panic --

EBENLook. We need rest. We’ll sleep in shifts. Measure out food. Then figure out the next step.

(a breath)We have two advantages. We know Barrow. Everything, where to hide, where to attack, where to find resources. And: we know cold --

The others look to Eben, wary but hopeful because they need hope so much, and Eben finds a bit more of his stride --

EBEN (cont’d)-- we’re Alaskans. We build towns where there’s nothing but ice. We live here for a reason. Because nobody else can.

OFF Stella, struck by how Eben rises to the moment --


TITLE: DAY 3. The snowfall has ended; a half moon lights the streets along with an incongruously glorious array of stars.


Denise punches buttons on her cellphone again and again; the screen keeps reading “SEARCHING SYSTEM” -- until finally the screen message changes to: “BATTERY EMPTY -- SHUTTING DOWN.” Sighing as another hope slips away, she looks to Carter --

DENISEDoes anybody in town have, like, a ham radio or something?

CARTERLarry Cooper had one, but he moved to Dillingham. Even if we could radio somebody, they can’t get to us --

Eben tears a peephole in a window they’ve covered in tarpaper, Stella takes a look outside. Nothing. Eben looks out himself, thinking for a moment to himself, his thoughts voiced before he realizes it --

40.


EBENIf we had kids, this’d be worse.

Stella stares at him quietly -- frustrated not as much by the comment, as by why they fight at all. Before she can answer, she’s interrupted by elderly Isaac, sitting up in confusion:

ISAACWhere’s Catherine? Catherine?

Eben watches in concern as Wilson kneels beside Isaac.

WILSONMom died from lung cancer, Dad -- sixteen years back.

Isaac frowns, baffled -- when a SUDDEN CRASH OUTSIDE KILLS THE BREATH IN EVERYONE. Stella joins Eben to peer out --

EXT. STREET - NIGHT - STELLA’S POV61 61

The door to a home is lying in the street -- two of Marlow’s creatures are visibly tearing through the place.

STELLA (O.S.)They’re ransacking the Clarks’ place -- tearing through everyone’s home --

INT. ATTIC - NIGHT - RESUME62 62

The group absorbs the news with dread, mentally calculating --

EBENAll right. It’ll take them a few days to get through all the houses --

DOUG(panics, in Eben’s face)

Then they’ll start ripping through the boarded-up places -- we have to move!

EBENWhen do you suggest we do that? When won’t they be out there hunting?

DOUGWe can wait here till they find us and kill us all, or we can run like hell! Some of us won’t make it, but that’s better’n all of us dying -- !

41.


JAKEThen you might want to wait a few more days, lose a little weight so you won’t be bringing up the rear -- !

Doug SLAPS Jake hard -- which makes Eben automatically, *brutally grab Doug by the neck and stare him down -- *

EBENStart a fight, the noise’ll get us killed a lot faster. You want that?

Doug hears, sulking. Eben’s gaze sears the point home -- then he drops Doug, takes a deep breath, looks to the others --

EBEN (cont’d)The Utilidor’s the strongest building in town. Its generator’s underground, it won’t make any noise. We get there, we can last the month. But it’s so far, we can’t head there till another storm gives us cover.

(looks outside)The next blizzard, we’ll be ready.


TITLE: DAY 6. CLOSE ON Kirsten Toomey, the daughter we met at the airport, wandering the streets -- clothing askew, face bruised. She walks this way and that, terrified and lost --

KIRSTENSOMEONE -- !


Doug and Wilson share a can of beets. Eben changes the propane canister. Stella, Lucy, Carter and Isaac sleep -- until they’re awakened by Kirsten’s pained voice echoing up to the attic --

KIRSTEN (O.S.)ANYONE -- !

Everyone tenses. Eben peels back the peephole --

EXT. STREET - NIGHT65 65

Kirsten keeps wandering, desperate and overwhelmed --

KIRSTENHELLO -- !

42.



Stella and Carter join Eben, watching in horror --

CARTERWe need to bring her in before they find her --

He turns to go for Kirsten, until Eben holds him --

EBENYou think they haven’t already?

Carter blinks, confused. Eben points his gaze back outside --

EBEN (cont’d)Watch --

CARTER’S POV -- Kirsten wanders past --

KIRSTENSOMEOOOONE -- !

EBEN (O.S.)Now look at the roofs behind her --

Carter’s POV shifts to the rooftops -- where SHADOWS STALK KIRSTEN, WATCHING HER EVERY MOVE --

IN THE ATTIC -- Carter looks to Eben, griefstricken --

EBEN (cont’d)They could take her anytime they wanted. They’re hoping she’ll lure someone out.

CARTERSo we can’t do anything?

Doug questions Eben silently. Carter picks up Doug’s gaze; *his own glance to Eben carries the implicit challenge -- with *guys like Doug around, you can’t be helpless while the town is *at stake. Eben heeds Carter’s advice, decides -- *

EBENI’m heading out.

STELLANot alone.

EBENThe more of us go, the more chance we’ll be seen.

43.


BEAUI’m coming with you.

Agreeing, Stella rises, reaching for her gear --

EBENProtecting this attic is the first priority --

(aside to Stella, private)Stella, these folks need hope, you’re better at that --

Stella nods; she doesn’t like it, but he’s right. Eben reaches for the pistol -- and Beau hefts up his shotgun --

BEAUSo let’s go, Eben --

EBENI don’t want company.

BEAUDidn’t ask what you want. Let’s move.

EBENBeau, I’m Sheriff of this town, it’s my job to keep you all safe --

DOUGYeah, hell of a job you’ve been doing.

Eben stares daggers at Doug, while Stella turns to Beau --

STELLAListen. We have two firearms. Eben’s taking the pistol he found downstairs. We need the bigger weapon here with us, Beau. We need you here.

DOUGI shot one of them to hell, he just shrugged it off. Weapons won’t help.

BEAU(pugnacious)

Maybe YOURS won’t.

Beau takes a post with his shotgun by the trapdoor. Eben leans into Stella as he leaves, whispers to her --

EBENTold you you’re better with people --

44.


Stella looks back evenly, not giving him any ground. Holding his breath, Eben quietly lowers the staircase and leaves. Once he’s gone, Stella corners Doug, taking no prisoners --

STELLAI hear another slam at Eben from you, I’ll throw you to those things myself. *

DOUG(taken aback)

-- I thought you and he were --

STELLAThinking. That’s where it all goes awry for you, Doug.

She turns away and looks outside apprehensively -- her thoughts with Eben despite everything --

OMITTED67-68 67-68

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT68A 68A

In the starlight, white now with exhaustion and pain, Kirsten Toomey makes another circuit of the town -- now some distance from the Kelso house --

KIRSTEN-- hello -- anybody --

She rounds a corner to find Marlow, Iris and four other vampires looking at her hungrily --

KIRSTEN (cont’d)Please -- I tried -- there’s nobody left -- please, God --

The vampires circle her slowly, deliberately. The pale, fleshy ARCHIBALD and the cadaverous Arvin look to Marlow, *still SPEAKING THEIR ANCIENT TONGUE --

ARCHIBALD(rasp of hunger)

ARVIN(sycophantic plea)

MARLOW(permission to begin)

The vampires nod with Marlow’s go-ahead -- then we see one FLASH OF A CLAW -- there is a red streak on Kirsten’s face --

45.


ANOTHER CLAW FLASHES, THEN ANOTHER -- bit by bit she’s being carved away as the vampires each take a turn, circling closer and closer --

While around the CORNER OF THE CLOSEST HOUSE -- Eben sidles into view -- fighting not to be crushed by the discovery that Kirsten is beyond help --

And as he leans against the house, in a moment of grief --

A DRIFT OF SNOW FALLS FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SNOW, A THUD that makes two vampires turn in his direction as Eben steals off --

OMITTED69-75 69-75

EXT. RIIS HOME - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS75A 75A *

Eben hurries to flatten himself against an exterior wall of the house, between supplies for Riis’s sled dogs. He works to *control his breath -- the sudden move threatening to set off his asthma -- while in the distance he sees the two vampires searching, heading off. He may be safe for the moment -- until his BLOOD RUNS COLD AS HE HEARS:

RIIS (O.S.) *Ebennnn -- !

EBEN’S POV: Across the street, in the shadows of the crawlspace under his house, is an agonized John Reese.

EBENJohn, how long have you been out here?

RIIS *(disoriented)

-- not sure --

Eben can sense something’s not quite right about Reese, though it’s not clear what --

EBENWhere’s Ally -- ?

RIIS *They took her -- they bit my face, then took her -- couldn’t follow, leg hurts -- so cold --

EBENHang on, we’ll get you to safety --

RIIS *So hungry -- so hungry --

46.


Eben edges to the edge of the house; all is quiet. He reaches out a hand to Riis -- *

EBENI’ll pull you out -- just stay quiet --

Eben hauls Riis forward; Riis uses his left leg only to help *propel himself. Eben tugs the gasping Riis to his feet, *bracing him --

And in the moonlight, we can now see that RIIS’S SCAR HAS *TURNED BLACK -- HIS EYES HAVE TURNED VAMPIRE-BLACK --

RIIS *Ebennnnnn --

He opens his mouth wide -- his gums have dried up, making his incisors look as long as fangs. He aims for Eben’s face --

Eben sees it just in time -- slugs Riis in the stomach -- *

He pulls away, slipping on ice, losing his gun in deep snow. *Riis falls, dazed -- but driven by inexplicable hunger, he *limps after Eben, who charges off searching for cover -- *

EXT. RIIS BACKYARD - NIGHT76 76 *

Eben charges through Riis’s backyard -- but one snowdrift is *deeper than he expects, and he loses his balance, reaching out to the chains on a child’s swingset to right himself --

Riis lunges for Eben, the two tangled in the chains, unable to *escape each other. Reese’s jaws strain to reach Eben --

Eben pulls out his pistol, but Riis pries it from Eben’s *grasp, dropping it so it disappears in the snow --

EBENWhat the hell happened to you -- ?

Riis blinks his eyes; he truly doesn’t know what happened to *him. Eben searches about in panic, his BREATH GROWING RASPIER AND RASPIER, finally seeing --

A PILE OF FIREWOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE -- AND AN AXE.

Eben strains the chains of the swing -- it’ll mean letting go of Riis for a moment, but he dives to reach the axe -- *

Riis, free now, yearns toward Eben, jaws salivating, about to *clamp his teeth down on Eben’s neck --

Eben swings the axe hard, CATCHING Riis in the shoulder -- *

47.


RIIS *(in pain but still going)

EBENNNNNNNN -- !!

Black blood flows from Riis’s wound as Eben wriggles loose, *gets his bearings and then SWINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN -- focusing on Eben’s pain as he’s forced to do what must be done --

Finally he staggers back against the woodpile, groping for his inhaler, GIVING HIMSELF A BLAST. But it’s the last blast -- Eben tosses the now-useless inhaler into the snow. He’s not sure how he’ll make it without the inhaler, but for now he has no choice. PAN from Eben toward the swingset, where a headless corpse hangs, caught up in the chains of the swings.

INT. KELSO HOME - NIGHT77 77

Stella and Beau meet a drained Eben sweeping his tracks. They pull the board closed as Eben joins them inside with his axe --

EBEN-- lost my gun --

BEAU-- wouldn’ta done any good anyway --

EBEN-- think there’s close to twenty of them, but there might as well be two hundred -- they’re watching everywhere, don’t know what they’re planning --

(the worst revelation)-- and John became one of them.

Stella and Beau try to absorb this -- it can’t be true --

STELLAHow’d you stop him?

Eben nods grimly toward his bloodied axe --

EBENNothing lives without a head.

Stella watches Eben wrestling with what he’s done --

STELLA You had to.

EBENI may have to again -- they can turn us into them --

48.


STELLAOh God --

Stella and Eben wrestle with the shock -- the world is so much more horrible than they ever dreamed -- as Beau examines the bloodied axe soberly, eyes full of dread. Stella looks to the attic with a sudden apprehension --

STELLA (cont’d)If we tell everyone, they’ll panic --

EBENPeople deserve to know.

BEAUAnd if they don’t know, they could get us killed -- they gotta get what’s at stake --

STELLA(still not sure)

How do we tell them?

EBEN(a beat)

How do we not?

EXT. RIIS BACKYARD - NIGHT 77A 77A *

Marlow and Iris grimly examine Riis’s corpse, Marlow fingering *Riis’s fangs with his talon-like nails. He looks to Iris, *curious -- THEY did not do this. Who could have?

OMITTED78 78


TITLE: DAY 12. Jake scoops the last from a can of Deviled Ham, looks to Stella --

JAKEYou sure you don’t want the last?

(Stella shakes her head)I used to like the little devil on these cans.

STELLAIf we can last till daylight’s back -- they didn’t show up till sundown. Maybe they can’t stand the light. It’s only two and a half weeks --

49.


DENISE(a helpless laugh)

Yeah, that’s all.

DOUGWe can’t hold out without food -- !

LUCYWhat about other houses? People might’ve left something.

EBENThey could be hiding and living on it themselves. There were 152 folks in town. Billy and his family, Paul *Jayko, the Robbinses, Adam and *Jeannie: we’re not the only ones left.

The others look toward the outside, considering, as Eben shows them a crude map he’s drawn on the back of a traffic ticket --

EBEN (cont’d)Look. Before too long there’ll be a blizzard. And when it happens, we just need to walk.

(indicating on the map)Each lot in town’s twenty-five feet wide. So the general store’s two hundred seventy-five feet east. The Utilidor’s seventy-five west, then due north as far as you can go. We can hit the store for food and then burrow down in the Utilidor.

(as the others absorb it)We know this town. We can walk it blindfolded. We just have to wait for the weather we’ve lived with since we were born.

The survivors stir with hope; even Doug takes a breath and finds a bit of patience. Stella turns privately toward Eben, taking him aside --

STELLA Hey. You know how you told me you could never be a dad? Bullshit. The way you look out for these people --

EBEN Don’t compliment me, you’ll just confuse me.

50.


STELLAIt’s not a compliment. It’s an attempt to ram something through that concrete skull: you can pull off more than you think you can.

EBEN(a beat)

Not if I have to worry my wife’ll run *away when we can’t work something out. *

They glare at each other in frustration -- not sure why every conversation between them has to end in a quarrel --

OMITTED79A-79B 79A-79B


TITLE: DAY 14. CLOSE on Isaac’s rheumy, eager eyes --


Isaac has lowered the ladder, he’s walking downstairs -- Stella follows him with her flashlight, WHISPERING URGENTLY. Unlike everyone else who must not speak above a hiss, Isaac speaks in his normal full voice, calm and determined --

ISAACI’m walking to Wainwright --

STELLAIt’s eighty miles, there’s no way to get there. Come back upstairs --

Wilson descends the staircase, alarmed --

ISAACWilson! Come along, we need to get out! Bring your mother, too --

Stella holds onto Isaac before he can reach the front door; he works to shake her off.

STELLAWe’ll die if you go out there -- !

ISAAC(angry now)

NO. NO. I’LL DIE IF I STAY IN HERE --

Stella clamps a hand over Isaac’s mouth. Stella and Wilson struggle to hold Isaac back -- he wriggles and writhes until finally he CRIES, and stops resisting --

51.


ISAAC (cont’d)(WHISPERING AT LAST)

I’m sorry -- Jesus, look at me -- I’m so sorry --

WILSON(lost for words)

It’s all right, Dad -- anyone would --

STELLAJust stay quiet, Mr. Bulosan --

ISAAC(looks around, confused)

Can I -- the bathroom -- ?

STELLARemember you can’t flush, the noise -- we’ll just open the valve afterward --

Isaac nods, not understanding fully but cooperating for now. They lead him delicately to the bathroom and Wilson closes the door on his father -- then slides down the wall, drained. Stella tries to encourage him --

STELLA (cont’d)What are the odds we would make it this long? We’re ahead of the curve.

WILSONEvery day they need more food. They’ll be back.

STELLAMaybe they’ll starve first. Ever think of that? We can see in the empty houses, they’re not rifling through pantries, they’re not living on frozen food --

WILSONWe’re their frozen food --

Suddenly, a SLIDING RASP from inside the bathroom. They look to each other in alarm. Wilson TAPS on the door --

WILSON (cont’d)Dad?

(silence)Dad -- ?!

(rising, to Stella)Should we break in?

52.


STELLAThe noise.

She pulls out her driver’s license, slips it through the door to manipulate it open. She shines her flashlight inside --

Revealing an empty bathroom -- and an OPEN WINDOW.

Wilson turns and runs for the front; Stella catches him --

STELLA (cont’d)Wait! You can’t just rush out there!

WILSONHE’S MY FATHER -- !

Wilson tugs loose -- Stella reaches for him again. Without warning he turns around and SLUGS her flat -- she lands with a THUMP as Wilson escapes out the front door --

INT. ATTIC - NIGHT - SIMULTANEOUS82 82

The THUMP makes Eben’s eyes blink instantly awake --

EBENStella -- ?

He searches the room. Only Doug and Lucy are awake. Lucy points down the ladder. Eben bolts up, disoriented and alarmed, and reaches for his axe --


Eben descends the ladder warily, axe ready -- only to find Stella dazed on the floor where she fell --

EBENWhat the hell happened?

STELLAI’m fine, thanks --

He knows that, but he’s too alarmed at the signs of danger to say anything of comfort --

EBENHow long has this ladder been down?

STELLA(getting her bearings)

Oh God -- maybe five minutes --

Eben lifts the ladder back into place, as Stella rises --

53.


STELLA (cont’d)Isaac took off for Wainwright. Wilson went to find him --

EBENAnd you let them go?

Stella rubs her jaw; archly --

STELLAYeah, that’s just what I did.


Wilson moves quickly, risking death every second he’s out -- in the attic he was only wearing a down vest, unprepared for the savagery of the cold --

WILSON(hissing)

Dad! Dad -- !

Silence. SNOW BEGINS TO FALL, WIND GROWS. Wilson looks to the sky, down an alley, under a house, growing desperate --

The loose door of a house SLAMS in the wind -- Wilson startles, backing away from the house --

Shivering, teeth starting to chatter, he’s realizing this is a very BAD idea, but he can’t abandon his father --

WILSON (cont’d)Daaaad -- !

His breath billows -- he wipes snow and tears from his face -- steps into a small snowbank -- and is suddenly PULLED THE REST OF THE WAY IN --

He starts to GASP -- when his cries are MUFFLED IN THE SNOW. Second by second, the snowbank turns RED WITH HIS BLOOD.

INT. KELSO HOUSE - NIGHT85 85

Eben and Stella simmer, bitter with losing Wilson --

EBENYou should’ve stopped him.

STELLAI fucking tried.

54.


EBENOh yeah? How hard? Part of you *probably thought: of course he should look for his dad, right?

STELLA(a beat; stung) *

At least Wilson went out doing what he *had to, for his family -- *

Eben can’t believe she’s throwing this at him now -- tersely *he returns the favor -- *

EBEN *Or he was just screwed because someone *ran out on him. *

Eben and Stella stare each other down -- too angry to know how to work through this until --

AN EERIE SCRATCHING SUDDENLY FILLS THE ROOM ABOVE.

Eben and Stella scramble upstairs and pull the ladder closed --

INT. ATTIC - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS86 86

THE SCRABBLING AND SCRATCHING ACROSS THE ROOF CONTINUE, freaking everyone as Eben moves to kill the propane heater --

EBEN (hissed)

Get down -- cover up -- !

Eben, Stella and Jake flatten against the wall by the peephole. The others dive under sleeping blankets -- fighting to stay quiet and remain still --

THE SCRABBLING MOVES FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROOF TO ANOTHER -- THEN IT DOUBLES AND TRIPLES, AS IF THERE ARE THREE CREATURES ON THE ROOF NOW --

Lucy quivers, Denise and even Doug both tremble as they feel surrounded --

There is silence for a moment -- the survivors wonder if they can relax --

THEN DENISE STIFLES A SCREAM AS A CRUEL BLACK EYE LOOKS IN THROUGH THE WINDOW, SEARCHING --

Eben tenses, his breathing tight and thin. Stella and Jake look to him in concern --

55.


After an achingly fearful moment, the eye disappears, the SCRABBLING SOUNDS STOP.

Eben looks to the others, his voice tight with congestion and alarm -- clearly the Kelso house is compromised now --

EBEN (cont’d)It’s snowing -- grab trashbags from *downstairs, we’re getting all the food *we can carry -- *

But his breathing is also compromised -- Eben’s chest heaves, sucking in air. Stella approaches, sotto voce:

STELLAYour inhaler --

DOUG(not sure he heard that)

What -- ?

EBEN(between breaths)

Useless -- threw it in the snow --

DOUGWHAT -- ?

STELLAWhat’re you going to do *without an inhaler? Do they *have them in the store -- ? *

DOUGWait a minute wait a minute, what? You’ve got, like, some kinda breathing problem? *

Eben nods tersely to both of them, fighting for breath, as *Doug reappraises Eben in a panic --

DOUG (cont’d)We’re following your plans, and you’re *keeping secrets? What else don’t we *know -- ? *

EBEN(had enough of this)

-- shut up, Doug --

DOUGFuck no! YOU shut up!

Furious, Doug SHOVES Eben back -- and even through his pained breaths, Eben BACKHANDS Doug into the wall. Stella intercedes as Eben braces himself against Jake, pulling in air --

56.


STELLAJesus, Doug!

BEAU(over, re Eben)

He’s right, we need food -- !

Doug’s about to speak again, when Jake SLAMS him to the floor:

JAKEWhat the hell?! When the shit went down, who kept it together? You were busy shouting, “They can’t be shot!” Who kept it together?!

They both know the answer. They look to Eben, who’s finally recovering his breath bit by bit. Raspily Eben settles it:

EBEN-- we need to move --


TITLE: DAY 15. Snow falls harder and harder on Barrow. A GUNSHOT ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN --

INT. COLLETTA HOUSE - NIGHT88 88

A modest home. Adam Colletta and his wife JEANNIE, 30s, lie on the living room floor, wrenched from their hiding place. Adam, a newly-fired pistol in his hand, stares in amazement --

Marlow, BLOOD DRIPPING FROM HIS CHEST, glares at them while ripping the gun from Adam’s hands. He speaks in a GUTTERAL RASP -- his English not easy, his accent unplaceable --

MARLOWYou had your chance to help us find *your friends. Now, you’ll have to *watch.

Marlow lifts up Adam, reaches for a fireplace poker, and IMPALES Adam through the guts and into the wall. Choking in pain, Adam is unable to move as Marlow takes Adam’s chin and directs his gaze toward Iris --

MARLOW (cont’d)Iris. You may take your time.

Neither Marlow nor Iris takes any sadistic pleasure from this; it’s simply the price that Adam and Jeannie must pay for resistance. Iris reaches for a hand of the terrified, sobbing Jeannie -- WE HEAR HIS FINGERS SNAPPING ONE AT A TIME -- *

57.


ADAMNOOOOoooooo -- !

Marlow, not as distracted by this as he wishes he could be, drops his hold on Adam, wanders to the stereo system. As Jeannie GASPS in the b.g. with each finger SNAPPED, Marlow rests a talon on a phonograph record sitting on the turntable. It’s almost as if, through his talons, he listens to the music *in the record grooves, his thoughts alive but unreadable -- *


Everyone is thinner, dirtier, drained. Eben faces them, energized for a plan, a plan not everyone trusts yet --

EBEN-- the fastest of us head to the store for food and supplies -- then if the storm’s still holding out, we all go to the Utilidor.

DOUG(quiet, surly)

You really think we can make it?

EBENYou can’t see a foot out there. So neither can they. The whiteout will cover our tracks -- if we leave now.

CARTERAnd how do we get into the Utilidor? It’s locked tight -- hell if I know where my keys are --

Eben and Stella trade looks -- wheels turning --

EBENThat sewage pipe. The one the twins were fixing -- ?

CARTER(thinking it through)

It’s shut off from the rest of the town. It’ll lead straight underground and inside.

LUCY *(wincing at the idea) *

The sewage pipe. *

58.


EBEN *It hasn’t been used in weeks. Be glad you’ll be alive to smell it. And once we’re out there -- NO STOPPING. There’s no fighting these things, we have to move move move --


Whiteout. HOWLING WIND. Scarved and masked, Eben carries his axe as he leads the survivors step by step through the biting snow, as SCREECHES ECHO DISTANTLY around them. Lucy stumbles, Carter helps her as they fight to clear their vision. Through the chaos, we hear Eben’s BREATH, SHALLOW AND TENSE --

EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT91 91

Whiteout. Marlow (chest now wrapped in clothes from Adam Colletta) stands with Iris, peering through the sheets of snow -- SCREECHING IN ANGER --

OMITTED92-93 92-93

EXT. GENERAL STORE - NIGHT94 94

Whiteout. Eben and his crew feel their way up the steps of the general store. Lucy practically sobs with relief as Carter helps her in. The doorway looms like a black hole with snow collecting in the open threshold --

INT. GENERAL STORE - NIGHT95 95

Stella runs her flashlight over the store as Eben’s ready to swing his axe -- all appears clear. The survivors pull *plastic trashbags from their parkas, as Eben looks first to *Beau, Lucy, Denise and Doug --

EBENYou four, grab all the canned goods you can. Stella and Carter, propane and batteries. Jake, medical supplies. I’m getting axes and bear traps. You have two minutes.

OMITTED96-97 96-97

INT. PHARMACY COUNTER - NIGHT98 98

Jake stuffs his bag with pain meds and bandages. Eben passes *him and grabs a handful of INHALERS. Eben pops one open, shakes it, BLASTS HIMSELF GRATEFULLY, shoves the inhalers in a pocket and moves on with a new energy --

59.


INT. HARDWARE AISLE - NIGHT99 99

Eben pulls three bear traps, tucks them under one arm, then reaches for axes. Down the aisle, Stella and Carter bundle up more propane canisters and batteries --

OMITTED100-102 100-102

INT. FOOD AISLE - NIGHT103 103

Denise, Beau and Lucy collect cases of Ensure. Doug *additionally stuffs his pockets with Oreos, grimly chuckles -- *

DOUGTold my wife I wouldn’t live on these while she was gone --

DENISEShe’ll cut you slack.

As they wad their trashbags full of emergency nutrition, they *hear a quiet SOBBING coming from the back. The four of them exchange looks, and warily walk toward --

INT. REAR STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS104 104

Where they see, from behind, the source of the SOBBING -- a LITTLE GIRL, bent over the prone, bloodied body of Tom Melanson, the kid we met kissing his girlfriend farewell --

DENISEIt’s Tommy Melanson --

(to the girl)Oh, honey, you need to come with --

The girl turns and looks at them. Her mouth is covered in blood, and we see now that it’s Tom Melanson who’s doing the sobbing -- the girl is a vampire --

LITTLE GIRLI’m done playing with this one --

She places a taloned hand on Tom’s jaw and RIPS as she eyes them eerily --

LITTLE GIRL (cont’d)You want to play with me now?

The four onlookers freak -- Beau reaches for a shovel to serve as a weapon, while the others charge back into the store --

60.


INT. GENERAL STORE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS105 105

Denise hisses in a panic toward Eben and Stella --

DENISEIn the back -- !!

Beau’s tossed violently back into the store like a toy, the shovel clattering uselessly behind him. Eben drops his beartraps, brandishes an axe, ready to swing --

But the little girl careens out of the storage room like a dervish, presenting a smaller target than Eben expected -- he swings over her head and she knocks him down --

The little girl’s about to pounce on Eben when Stella grabs her from behind and THROWS HER AWAY DOWN THE AISLE --

Doug pulls Denise toward the front, as Carter reaches for a can of MACE and sprays it into the little girl’s face --

IT SHRIEKS and only lunges for Carter all the harder, ripping off his cap and baring her fangs --

But now Eben’s back -- he charges the girl and fights to pin her against the wall -- she kicks and spits like a snake --

Eben looks for help -- Beau and Stella join him to pin the girl as she nearly wriggles from their grip -- they can’t hold her long --

EBENThe axe -- somebody -- !

DOWN THE FOOD AISLE --

Doug keeps pulling Denise and Lucy toward the door --

DOUGCome on -- !

The women waver, not sure if they should run out yet --

IN THE HARDWARE AISLE --

The little girl kicks and twists -- Eben, Beau and Stella are losing their grip on her as Carter reels in pain in the b.g. --

EBENSOMEBODY! THE AXE -- !

And an axeblade FLASHES past Eben’s face --

61.


Suddenly the little girl’s body is still -- writhing only in automatic nervous movement for a few moments. Eben, Stella and Beau look up to see --

Jake -- axe in hand -- falling backward against the dry goods, knocked for a loop by what he’s done, fighting tears --

Eben embraces his brother in concern -- then looks to Doug, Lucy and Denise as they slowly emerge --

EBEN (cont’d)Where the hell were you?!

DOUG(a beat)

I thought we should get the food back to the others -- in case you lost.

Eben rises in pain, catching his breath as he considers Doug’s plan -- then ruefully claps Doug on the shoulder --

EBENSmart call.

Jake stands over the corpse, still overwhelmed --

JAKEShe -- just a girl --

STELLA(consoling him)

Not anymore.

DENISEShe spoke to us. In English. Was she some girl they just turned -- or one of them? Does anybody recognize her?

EBEN(correcting Denise)

It. Not her.

They look toward the decapitated head, wincing. Nobody has an answer. Lucy walks toward the front door, reeling. Carter (scarf tightly wrapped around his head) sounds nauseated --

CARTERIt pulled Tom’s head off before it attacked us --

STELLAMaybe they don’t just do that out of bloodthirst --

62.


EBEN(agreeing)

They want to keep their numbers down. They don’t want to give themselves competition.

Eben and Stella share a look: no enemy has ever been more ruthless --

LUCY(from the doorway)

The whiteout’s over --

OMITTED106-107 106-107


Eben and Stella appear in the doorway in panic toward the front -- to see it’s true. The snow has eased to the point where the street is visible again through the front door --

STELLAOur cover’s gone.

EBENAnd the fresh snow’ll show tracks.

They regard each other in dread --

EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT109 109

Lighter snowfall. Marlow and Iris stand and shake the snow from their shoulders, ready to hunt again --

Across the street, they see two other vampires climbing along the eaves of houses, also starving --

INT. GENERAL STORE - NIGHT110 110

The survivors huddle in the back, trapped, brainstorming --

EBENThey watch the store more than anyplace else. We need to move or we’ll be trapped.

DOUGWe can’t get to the Utilidor. It’s too far without cover.

CARTERCould we make it back to your station if somebody created a diversion?

63.


Eben studies his old friend, hearing how Carter’s offering himself for that role --

EBENIt’s not going to be you, Carter --

Eben and Carter face off, respecting each other’s bravery -- when Stella speaks up with the energy of a new plan --

STELLAIt won’t be you either. These things can’t survive the sun. What if we brought the sun early?

EBENLike exactly?

STELLAHelen had that medical marijuana *operation at home -- *

JAKE *(getting it) *

Yeah -- she used an ultraviolet lamp *to grow the stuff -- *

DENISE(desperate humor)

All right, Helen!

STELLAI can run for her place -- let them follow me -- then fry them with the sunlamp while the rest of you beat it to the sheriff’s station.

DOUGWhat the hell makes you think a sunlamp will make a dent in them?

CARTER(overlapping)

We’ve got all kinds of wattage at the Utilidor and they still came and ate Xavier Jayko --

STELLAUltraviolet, Carter. There’s no UV light here for another two weeks. It’ll be the last thing they expect.

64.


BEAUJust because something stopped Bela Lugosi doesn’t mean it’ll stop these things.

STELLAThey didn’t show up till it was dark. Why would they use that stranger to cut us off -- unless they just can’t handle sunlight?

JAKEWhat if it doesn’t work -- ?

STELLA(she’s got nothing)

It has to.(a deep breath)

Take this, I need to run light --

She tries to hand Eben the propane, but he shakes his head --

EBENI can run fastest.

JAKEBullshit. I weigh less than you, I don’t have asthma --

EBEN(suddenly harsh)

SHUT IT, JAKE --

JAKE(re the asthma)

What, everybody knows now -- !

EBENYou’re fifteen. Forget it.

JAKEI’m fifteen, right. You’ve got a wife, people need you --

EBEN(into Jake’s face)

I saw you when you killed that girl. Crying little boy. You try and tell me you’re up to doing that three or four more times. What do you say?!

It’s harsh, but Eben has to be harsh to keep Jake here. Jake’s stunned silent;

65.


he can’t help resenting how right Eben is. Stella glances at Jake, underscoring the idea that Jake had better not push it, then looks back to Eben --

STELLAYou don’t even think this plan’ll work.

EBENBut you do. Right?

She’s silent, realizing Eben trusts her this much --

EBEN (cont’d)Look, who’s the sheriff, and who’s the bureaucrat from Anchorage? I’m making the run. I’ll stop them with the sunlamp and see you back at the attic.

She steels herself, reluctantly handing him the walkie-talkie.

STELLAYou’ll need to start her jenny first.

JAKEIt’s in her sideyard by the woodpile. Head in the back door, the pot’s growing in the laundry room.

STELLA(holds Eben to this)

See you soon.

He turns to go -- she’s loving and hating him for putting himself on the line like this --

OMITTED111 111


Light snowfall, ethereal calm. Until Eben BOLTS out of the store, setting a land speed record as he lets his AXE WHACK AGAINST LAMPPOSTS, drawing attention away from the store --

OMITTED113 113


Light snowfall. Marlow, Iris and two other vampires HEAR THE SOUNDS EBEN’S CREATING -- they turn a corner to see Eben speeding away at the end of the next block --

66.


EXT. HELEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT115 115

Light snowfall. A modest, unassuming home, its front windows broken. Eben, WHEEZING, caroms into the side yard and pushes the generator button. Nothing. He pushes it again, again -- finally it STARTS WHIRRING TO LIFE --

EXT. NEW STREETS - NIGHT116 116

Light snowfall. Marlow’s pack turns in the direction of the GENERATOR STARTING UP --

INT. HELEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT117 117

Eben, breath thicker and thicker, runs into the laundry room -- finds the pot garden. He BLASTS HIS INHALER as he flips on a lightswitch --

A BULKY ULTRAVIOLET SUNLAMP -- SIX FEET LONG -- ILLUMINATES THE NOW-DEAD PLANTS --

Eben laughs despite himself, light’s never been so beautiful --


Light snowfall. Stella ushers the others, arms full of supplies, out into the street --

STELLA(hissing)

Go, go, go -- !


The snow has stopped. Marlow, Iris and the others reach *Helen’s house, eyes filled with murderous anticipation --


Eben readies the sunlamp, steeling himself for confrontation --

The floor CREAKS -- and Eben freezes. They could come at him from any direction. The MOAN of the wind through the house SLAMS A DOOR open and shut somewhere, keeping him on edge --


Stella’s party hustles ahead -- Beau in the lead, Denise, Lucy *and a bundled-up Carter behind him, followed by Jake and Stella. Doug, in the rear, stumbles in a snowdrift, his store of food spilling everywhere. As he scrabbles in the snow quickly to retrieve it all --

67.


WHOOOOM -- there is a flash of black -- a vampire drops from the rooftops onto Doug --

He lashes at Doug’s neck, KEENING to call allies as Stella’s party disappears around a corner ahead --

Stella turns at the KEENING of the vampire, the GURGLING SCREAMS from DOUG -- but Carter pulls her onward. In a cold sweat, she knows she must keep the others moving --

EXT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT122 122 *

The survivors haul inside -- faint lights flickering as the *jenny fights on. Beau covers them at the door with his *shotgun as Stella copes with her fear for Eben -- *


Eben’s primed for the attack -- but still it’s a shock when the vampires BREAK DOWN THE DOOR after Eben. He sucks in all the breath he can, and aims the sunlamp at them --

IRIS SIZZLES -- her skin charring as she KEENS IN PAIN and staggers away --

Eben holds fast -- this rare victory overwhelming him with relief, even as his eyes widen in awe at this uncanny sight --

Marlow pulls Iris away, but LOCKS EYES with Eben for one moment -- nobody has ever destroyed one of his toys. He will not forget Eben --

Marlow backs away with the dying Iris before he can be hit with the next blast of UV light --


Jake looks soberly at the floor, where shreds of Helen’s dress *and the Stranger’s clothes lie amid BLOODSTAINS. Stella kills *the lights, fires up the WALKIE-TALKIE -- *

STELLAEben, we’re safe -- your status?

INT./EXT. HELEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT125 125 *

Eben looks out the window -- outside Iris is collapsing to the *ground, a CHARRED HUSK. Marlow is VISIBLY ORDERING the other *two attackers to tear the generator loose -- *

EBENIt worked once -- but they’re killing the power -- !

68.


INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT - RESUME126 126

Stella, Beau and the other survivors listen in alarm --

EBEN (O.S.)(on WALKIE-TALKIE)

-- I’ll have to run for it somehow --

DENISE(hushed, despite herself)

He’s toast --

Forget about their quarrels -- Stella slowly dies inside at the knowledge that she’s losing Eben --

Beau’s struck by Stella’s pain -- moved despite himself -- and grabs the walkie-talkie from Stella, CLICKING IT ON --

BEAUI’ll get you a shot, Sheriff. Break out and tear for Rogers Avenue, run toward the ditch driller -- *

EBEN (O.S.)The brakes are jammed on that thing -- *

BEAUWhat I got in mind don’t need brakes.

Beau hefts the bear traps, heads for the ladder, resolved, as his plan becomes clear to a stunned Stella --

STELLABeau -- ?!!

Beau pulls a wad of unpaid tickets from his parka --

BEAUTell Eben to mark these paid in full, okay?

STELLAYou can’t -- !

BEAU Eben’s done his turn as decoy -- *

(honestly now) *-- he’s needed more’n I am -- *

OFF Stella, both scared and touched --

69.



Eben charges out the front door, while behind the house --

OMITTED128 128 *

INT. HELEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS129 129 *

Marlow SMASHES the sunlamp as he urges the others after Eben --

EXT. ROGERS AVENUE - NIGHT130 130

Eben darts with his axe from house to house, seeing the street *sign for Rogers Avenue --


Marlow SNARLS in pursuit, pointing out Eben’s footprints to *the others -- HOWLING IN BLOODLUST --


Marlow’s trio is joined by FOUR MORE VAMPIRES answering the howl -- the seven prowl down the avenue in search of Eben. They pause when they hear a LOW GRUMBLING ROAR behind them --

Suddenly an enormous CHAINSAW lunges at Marlow’s crew -- the ditch driller. With an impudent Beau at the wheel. The *chainsaw’s steel teeth RIPPING through one vampire’s body -- TORN IN HALF as Beau steers the ditch driller forward -- *

BEAUWho’s next, huh?

The vampires swarm toward the ditch driller furiously -- one *of them jumping into the dump bay to attack Beau from behind --

SNAP! He lands in a steel BEAR TRAP camouflaged under the snow. The trap’s TEETH rip into his leg -- he bleeds black upon the snow and falls off the truck -- mauled by the tire chains as Beau drives over him --

EBEN runs to help, outdistanced as Beau drives the ditch *driller away with the vampires swarming over it. Eben stares *in awe --


Beau sees two vampires swarming onto his hood, bashing at the windshield and creating SPIDER-WEB CRACKS THROUGHOUT. He SWERVES AND FISHTAILS -- hurtling the vamps this way and that. One slips and falls into the CHAINSAW --

70.


Beau FLOORS the gas again --

BEAUWelcome to Barrow! Top of the world!


Stella watches around the edge of a windowblind for Eben --

While Carter uses a small flashlight to look into a MIRROR. His face is scarred -- skin dead-white -- EYES NOW DEAD-BLACK.


Beau drives on, as vampires race toward the ditch driller from *the alleys. He aims his SHOTGUN at them -- pumping rounds. LOADING. RELOADING. SHOOTING. Driving back enemies --

-- but the swarm is inevitably starting to engulf him. He circles back onto --


-- and steers toward the ADMIRALTY BAY HOTEL as vampires *SHATTER the windshield. Powering straight into the hotel, Beau SCREAMS ALL THE WAY as the ditch driller impacts -- *

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT137 137

Sudden quiet. The ditch driller sits in the middle of rubble. *Beau grabs his shotgun and a box of FLARES from the truck, climbing out through the windshield --

No sign of his enemies. He slides, dazed and bleeding, off the hood of the truck and looks about --

Emerging from the rubble, six vampires surround him -- two of them still pinned in bear traps -- all of them viciously angry. Beau lifts his shotgun --

CLICK. Empty. He grins punchily -- reaches for a flare --

BEAUYou ain’t gonna eat me --

HE LIGHTS A FLARE, drops it in the box -- EXPLODING THEM ALL --

EXT. STREET - NIGHT138 138 *

Eben stops for a second in heartbreak, regarding the FIERY *GLOW from Rogers Avenue -- Beau’s sacrifice. *

71.


EXT. HOTEL - NIGHT 139 139 *

Beau’s attackers, on fire, throw themselves into the snow as Marlow, waiting outside, looks on in disgust. At last Beau himself staggers out, GASPING IN PAIN, near dead, walking on autopilot, a charred wreck of a man finally collapsing atop the fallen sign for the ADMIRALTY BAY HOTEL -- *

MARLOW SNARLS IN HIS INHUMAN TONGUE -- and lifts his boot above Beau’s head. OFF THE SOUND OF THE SICKENING CRUNCH -- *


Eben returns and a relieved Stella hugs him for all he’s worth -- he’s too drained to respond except to mourn --

EBENBeau.

STELLA *(sadly nodding) *

And Doug. *

Stella reaches toward Eben in grief -- they take hands. In *the b.g., Jake, Lucy and Denise stop sorting the canned goods to honor Beau’s loss, while Carter broods from a corner.

Eben and Stella shake with pain, absorbing the tragedy -- *

Then Eben embraces Stella with all the passion he has ever felt for her.

The two of them reconnect, all past quarrels forgotten -- nearly shaking with the depth of their need for each other --

They reach for breath and share a deeper look, affirming their *bond -- as Lucy breaks the moment, trying to wrap her head *around all the losses -- *

LUCY *Now there’s six of us. *

CARTER *Soon there’ll be just five. *

Carter pulls back his hood and shows them his DEAD-BLACK EYES. *

The others tense in fear, watching Carter sweating and *trembling like a malaria victim -- as Eben and Stella steel themselves to fight Carter if they have to --

72.


CARTER (cont’d)-- the girl in the store. I changed -- -- so thirsty now -- what do you think, do those things live forever?

Eben lifts his axe warily --

STELLAI -- don’t know --

CARTERCouldn’t tell you -- that photo’s all *I’ve got left of my family -- Martha *took the kids to visit her mom, they *were hit by a drunk driver -- *

(fighting back tears)I wanted to join them so much -- couldn’t bring myself to do it -- but I know they’re waiting for me --

(bitterly)I can’t live forever. Don’t let me --

STELLA(sheer denial)

No. No. Carter --

EBEN(it’s sinking in)

He’s told us what he wants -- *

Eben stares her down -- until she sees there’s no other way. Eben lifts his axe, nods to Carter, walks with him to the station’s kitchen.

Stella watches them go, eyes full of tragedy. Nearly writhing *with helplessly, Stella dreads what she’s about to hear -- *waiting, waiting -- *

And after a moment, we hear the cruel THUNK of the axe -- *

Stella and the other survivors wince, knowing their friend is *gone now. At last Eben trudges back in, aching, walking *across the station, unable to look at any of them now. *

Desperate to help, Stella crosses to him and WHISPERS -- *

STELLA *We can make it. We got food enough *for two more weeks. *

EBEN *(fiercely) *

STOP IT. *

73.


STELLA *Stop what? Stop hoping? *

Eben looks at her -- considers -- *

EBEN *The last hopeful idea took away three *people I’ve known my whole damn life. *

Quietly, carefully, Stella reaches toward Eben -- *

But in the wake of losing Carter, Eben pulls back, no longer *able to accept consolation. They stand not far apart and yet *so aware of the chasm between them -- yearning to bridge the *gap yet not knowing how -- *

As Eben’s searching for words, suddenly he blinks -- *

EBEN’S POV -- a small LIGHT FLASHES OUTSIDE -- *

EBEN -- flares with a new sense of mission -- *

EBEN (cont’d) *Someone’s alive -- *

They move to the doorway, wary as they study the FLASHING -- *

STELLA *Morse Code -- *

OMITTED141-143 141-143 *

EXT. KITKA HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS144 144

From a window on the upper floor of a ransacked house two doors down across the street, a PENLIGHT KEEPS FLASHING --

EBEN (O.S.)It’s Billy --

(decoding)Hid in the vents -- they tore through his house --

INT. KITKA HOUSE - NIGHT145 145

Wedged against a window by a pile of furniture hurled into a corner, Billy Kitka -- Eben’s childhood friend who reported the vandalism of the Snowcats -- desperately works a small PENLIGHT on his keyring --

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS146 146

Stella watches as Eben decodes the Morse Code FLASHES --

74.


EBEN(reading)

He’ll warn us when it’s safe -- he can see the town, they’re coming back -- !

The flashing light DISAPPEARS to blackness as Stella and Eben close the door in alarm --

EXT. HELEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT147 147 *

Marlow stalks up to where the CHARRED BODY OF IRIS lies upon *the icy tarmac -- glowering as he regards her ruined form -- *

He kneels beside her, running his nails along her skin. It *almost looks sentimental -- *

Until he suddenly, viciously SINKS HIS TEETH INTO HER NECK, *starting to feed -- nothing is more important than his hunger. *After a moment, he comes up for air, face bloody -- and eyes *full of the need for vengeance -- *


TITLE: DAY 21. Jake, Denise and Lucy watch as Eben and Stella suit up to head outside --

DENISEWhat kind of shape can he be in?

LUCYMaybe he should stay there; we can hold out here if he’s our lookout.

STELLAHe’s starving, Lucy -- while the streets are clear now, we don’t have any choice --

LUCYDon’t we?

Denise silences Lucy with a glare. Jake hands Stella a can of Ensure as Eben takes one of the walkie-talkies --

JAKEThis’ll help him get back -- *

EBENYou’ll be okay here, Jake? *

Jake nods solemnly, a silent promise to his brother than he’s *up to the job. Eben shoots a look to Lucy as he prepares to *go, firmly resolved -- *

75.


EBEN (cont’d) *We’re not losing anyone else.


Eben and Stella check the coast -- run across the street into an alley and catch their breath --

A WIND FROM SOMEWHERE -- a CREAK -- are they being watched? They hesitate, look to each other -- they have no other choice. Furiously they bolt toward Billy’s house --

OMITTED150-153 150-153

INT. KITKA HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT154 154

Searching through the house, Stella WHISPERS Eben into the bedroom where furniture has been thrown against the wall --

STELLABilly’s wife and daughters -- they haven’t been touched --

AN EERILY TRANQUIL WOMAN, IN HER 40s, SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR BESIDE HER TEENAGE DAUGHTERS, THEIR BODIES TOSSED ASIDE --

Eben senses something’s not right, kneels beside the bodies --

Where he sees BULLET HOLES at the base of the women’s necks.

EBENSomeone -- SHOT them.

It’s the worst thing Eben could see right now -- a family killed, betrayed as they slept. As he tries to bear up --

BEHIND THE HURLED FURNITURE, BILLY’S VOICE CREAKS OUT WEAKLY:

BILLYI did --

Stella and Eben work to pull the furniture away, revealing Billy, dazed and guilty. Stella grabs the can of Ensure and kneels beside him --

STELLADrink this.

EBEN(as he does)

Billy -- your family -- ?

76.


BILLY(painful nod)

-- didn’t want them to die like the others --

Stella closes her eyes in grief as a shocked Eben absorbs it --

BILLY (cont’d)-- tried to shoot myself, too -- but the fucking gun jammed -- they came when they heard the shots, I hid here and got trapped --

(crying now)-- shouldn’t have signalled to you, just couldn’t stand being alone --

Without warning, EBEN WHACKS BILLY INTO THE WALL, rage boiling over --

STELLA(in shock)

Eben -- !

He lifts Billy up and BACKHANDS HIM AGAIN, until Stella holds him back. Eben’s fighting not to be so loud as to attract the enemy and yet unable to stop himself --

EBEN You had a family! A family! You don’t EVER hurt them, you do whatever it fucking takes to --

Eben loses his breath in his fury, as Billy cries silently, knowing his guilt. Eben shakes his head, not knowing what to do with Billy -- until finally, he gruffly extends a hand --

EBEN (cont’d)When the sun comes up -- you can tell it to a judge --

EBEN -- lifts an unsteady Billy to his feet, but Billy STUMBLES back, unable to keep his balance --

EBEN (cont’d)You haven’t used your legs in two weeks. You’ll need to work up to it.

(a beat)It could take us days to get back to the station if they’re out in the streets again --

77.


BILLY(truly lost)

Why would we go there -- ?

EBENJake’s there with Denise and Lucy. We’ll reconnect when we can, then move to the Utilidor. There’s a sewage pipe outside, we can get into the plant without them seeing --

Eben takes a breath and lifts Billy back up, determined --

EBEN (cont’d)First let’s get you able to walk --


TITLE: DAY 23. Wind HOWLS, driving snow like sand -- Eben and Stella support Billy as they sidle toward the station.

OMITTED156 156


Eben warily enters, expecting anything --

EBENOh God --

STELLAWhat?

EBEN’S POV: THE STATION IS EMPTY.

Eben bolts the rest of the way in, searching. Stella and Billy look about, fighting back terror. Stella picks up the other walkie-talkie, abandoned on the floor --

STELLA (cont’d)(needs hope so badly)

Maybe they tried for the Utilidor --

Eben nods, summons up energy to head outside again --

EBENWe’ll check every house on the way --

They head out, reaching into their hearts for strength --

OMITTED158-161 158-161

78.


EXT. JAYKO HOUSE - NIGHT161A 161A *

TITLE: DAY 26. Zurial and Archibald circle this house hungrily, SCRATCHING AT THE WINDOWS --

INT. COLLETTA HOUSE - NIGHT161B 161B

From behind the curtains in this now-ransacked and bloodstained home, Eben watches as --

EXT. JAYKO HOUSE - NIGHT161C 161C *

EBEN’S POV -- Paul Jayko, one of the twin sewage workers, *bolts from his house in desperation, driven mad by the taunting of Zurial and Archibald --

Paul runs through the snow for just one horrific moment as *MARLOW swoops down from a roof, plummeting THE SCREAMING PAUL *into a snowdrift --

Zurial and Archibald careen after him, ready to feed, only to see that Marlow has beaten them to it --

ARCHIBALD(territorial snarl)

Marlow rears up, face wet with blood, willing to tolerate no *challenge to his kill --

MARLOW(feral threat)

He doesn’t have to say it twice. Archibald and Zurial back *off, watching obediently as Marlow descends again to feed on *Paul Jayko -- *

OMITTED161D-162 161D-162 *

EXT. CRAWLSPACE - NIGHT163 163 *

TITLE: DAY 29. Drained, pallid, but forcing themselves onward, Eben, Stella and Billy crawl inch by inch, WHISPERING:

BILLY-- we’ve been pushing all week and only made it a few blocks --

STELLA-- not even in a straight line --

EBEN-- we don’t have much further to go --

79.


They tense at the KEENING WAIL of a vampire nearby -- who is the next prey?

OMITTED164 164

INT. ROBBINS HOUSE HALLWAY - NIGHT165 165

Zurial stalks through the house, KEENING. INTERCUT WITH --

INT. ROBBINS HOUSE - CLOSET - NIGHT - SIMULTANEOUS166 166

Crammed into the closet for the hot water heater are Frank and Michelle Robbins and their kids Larry and Gail. They quail, hearing ZURIAL’S FOOTSTEPS, HIS UNEARTHLY KEENING --

After a horrible moment, the footsteps fade away, the keening ends -- Larry sighs, hoping they are safe --

ZURIAL -- in the hallway, turns suddenly -- and sees the CLOUD OF LARRY’S BREATH COMING FROM THE CLOSET --


SCREAMS PULL Eben, Stella and Billy to the edge of the house to see --

EXT. ROBBINS HOUSE - NIGHT167A 167A

EBEN’S POV -- GAIL fills the frame, careening from the house *SCREAMING -- *

Far in the b.g., we see what Gail is running from: the *destruction of her family. Zurial drops the remains of the *boy Larry (his mother Michelle’s now dead inside), as Larry’s *father Frank throws himself at Zurial in a desperate attempt *to save his family. Zurial clutches Frank by the throat with *one hand and begins SEVERING FRANK one limb at a time -- *

But mostly what we see is GAIL -- because she’s RUNNING *STRAIGHT TOWARD THE CRAWLSPACE WHERE EBEN IS HIDING --

EXT. CRAWLSPACE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS168 168

Stella reaches out to embrace Gail, clamping a hand over her mouth to stop her crying --

EBEN’S POV -- It’s too late -- Zurial looks up from his attack *on Frank, narrowing his gaze TO FIND THE SOURCE OF GAIL’S *CRYING -- looking right into the eyes of Eben, Stella and Billy. He KEENS hungrily at the sight of them --

EBEN -- shoots an order to Billy --

80.


EBENI’m giving you a chance to help save someone --

(then to Stella)Get her away, we’ll cover you --

EXT. ROBBINS HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS169 169

Eben rolls out with Billy before Stella can argue -- raising his axe and tearing with Billy around the side of the house --

Face bloody, Zurial follows Eben and Billy around the house --

EXT. CRAWLSPACE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS170 170

Stella and Gail scramble out, searching furiously for safety --

INT. ROBBINS HOUSE KITCHEN - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS171 171 *

Eben and Billy run inside the back door, past Michelle’s *corpse on the floor --

But Zurial is there before they know it -- he grabs Eben, and *the axe CLATTERS to the floor. Billy freaks and runs out -- *Eben’s shocked by the desertion as Zurial’s jaws open wide for *the attack -- *

OMITTED172 172 *

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT - SIMULTANEOUS173 173 *

Stella and Gail hesitate by a trio of ABANDONED CARS as they reach a corner -- FOOTSTEPS NEARING THEM -- Stella looks about wildly in search of safety --

INT. ROBBINS HOUSE KITCHEN - NIGHT - RESUME174 174 *

Eben flails an arm toward the kitchen counter, finds a CARVING *KNIFE and slashes it across Zurial’s face before the vampire *can attack. Zurial reels with an eerie KEENING SCREAM, his *black blood spurting across his eyes -- *

Eben reaches for the axe and scrambles away as Zurial clutches *his face in pain --

OMITTED175-176 175-176


Seemingly desolate, on the edge of town --

OMITTED178-179 178-179

81.



Inside the mouth of a sewage pipe, Eben edges forward. A WHIRRING MECHANICAL NOISE ECHOES through the pipe, shadows trace their way across him as he moves, CREAKS JUMP UP from here and there -- does he dare to take another step? What other choice does he have?

He creeps ahead another step -- holding his breath as the pipe CREAKS -- he’s nearly made it to sanctuary when he sees the SOURCE OF THE HUMMING. The whirling, razor-edged shafts of the colossal shredder are almost beneath him, he’ll have to jump over them to safety. He leaps forward --

And as soon as he lands, without warning, Lucy, Jake and Denise emerge from hiding, ready to shove him into the blades! Jake pulls them back just in time --

JAKEEben!

DENISEWe nearly killed you -- !

Eben hugs Jake closely, looks at the three of them -- last survivors at the Alamo. All are pale, desperately needing a shower and about a week of sleep -- looking as desperate as the vampires.

EBENWhere’s Stella? Gail Robbins?

They all look back sadly -- they have no answer --

EBEN (cont’d)Oh God -- they’re still out there -- !

OFF Eben, in sudden cold sweat, steeling himself for the worst threat, the possibility that Stella might not make it --

EXT. PUMP HOUSE, UTILIDOR - NIGHT180A 180A

A gaunt, desperate Billy stands at the sewage pipe which the Jayko twins worked, twisting the hatch. Once it’s open, he slides into the sewage pipe and closes the hatch after him --

Not seeing that in the distance, Arvin tracks him steadily --

INT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT180B 180B

Followed by the others, Eben moves to the window, searching outside for Stella, pulling out his WALKIE-TALKIE --

82.


EBEN(INTO WALKIE-TALKIE)

Stella -- ! Come in, Stella, where are you -- ?

INT. MUFFIN MONSTER - NIGHT180C 180C

Billy crawls from the pipe, sees the spinning blades of the shredder. Taking a deep breath, he jumps over the blades and tumbles into the main room, timid and drained --

BILLYHello -- ? Anyone -- ?

GLINTING in the empty sewage pipe behind him, ARVIN’S VAMPIRE-BLACK EYES --

INT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT180D 180D

Eben scans the town for any sign of hope, when --

BILLY (O.S.)AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa -- !!

Eben and the other survivors trade glances -- knowing they’ll need all of them to help if they’ve been compromised --

INT. MUFFIN MONSTER - NIGHT180E 180E

Arvin feeds on a twitching, still living Billy --

Eben tears in, brandishing his axe -- he takes a crushing swing at Arvin just as Arvin turns, and the axe embeds itself in Arvin’s arm --

Lucy SCREAMS as Arvin hurls the axe away and then dives toward *Eben, seething in pain and anger, and turns on Denise -- *

Lucy, Denise and Jake grab Arvin’s arms and try to haul him *back toward the Muffin Monster -- but Arvin shrugs them off easily --

Until Eben, using the distraction, HURTLES himself squarely into Arvin -- KNOCKING ARVIN TOWARD THE WHIRLING SHAFTS OF THE SHREDDER --

It’s not quite enough to knock him in -- Arvin catches himself and SNARLS FERALLY at Eben, ready to charge him. Billy, on *the verge of death, sees Eben with nowhere to run -- *

BILLY *(desperately) *

No -- *

83.


Summoning every ounce of adrenalin he has left, Billy RAMS *Arvin the rest of the way in --

Arvin’s pulled through the shafts, unable to resist, buffeted into the depths of the Muffin Monster to his destruction --

Even as Billy nearly falls in the shredder himself -- he HOWLS as the blades of the shredder clip off his HAND -- !

Denise SCREAMS, Lucy fights hysteria as Billy reels to the floor, hiding his bloody stump of an arm --

Eben lands at his side, grateful for Billy’s help even as he mourns what it has cost Billy --

EBENBilly --

BILLY(hissed)

-- I’m dead, Eben --

Billy writhes on the floor, his eyes TURNING VAMPIRE-BLACK. Eben reaches for his axe, summoning strength, knowing what he has to do --

Billy involuntarily KEENS as he sees the axe raise, a SUDDEN DEAFENING WAIL THAT CUTS TO THE HEART --

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT180F 180F

Marlow, stalking through the town with a quartet of vampires, turns at the distant sound of BILLY’S KEENING. At his side, a wounded Zurial stands, his face SCARRED but intact. Their *nostrils flare as they hear Billy; there must still prey to be squeezed from this town --

Narrowing his eyes, Marlow searches down the street --

EXT. UTILIDOR - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS - MARLOW’S POV180G 180G

The desolate sewage plant waits as BILLY’S KEENING DIES AWAY --

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT - RESUME180H 180H

Marlow gestures to his pack; the four vampires plunge ahead --

EXT. UTILIDOR - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS180I 180I

The four vampires BASH AT the pump house door, unable to break the steel and concrete --

84.


INT. MUFFIN MONSTER - NIGHT - SIMULTANEOUS180J 180J

Eben lifts up his axe and ruefully wipes away Billy’s blood -- when the survivors hear the POUNDING ECHOING from above. Denise, Jake and Lucy work to resist panic, shivering and looking to Eben for any small hope. Without Stella at his side, he gives them as much as he can give --

EBENWe’ll wait it out.

(and, seething)We’ll have to.

INT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT181 181

Eben paces, losing it -- the hours without Stella are taking a harsh toll. HE BLASTS HIS INHALER, CLICKS THE WALKIE-TALKIE --

EBEN(INTO WALKIE-TALKIE)

Stella, where are you -- ?(waits, waits)

Stella, we’re okay, come in --

Nothing but silence. He shudders with rage and helplessness --

Denise, Lucy and Jake are beyond tired; their lips are parched, eyes bloodshot, clothes hanging like dead skin. Denise walks down the corridor carrying a bottle of vodka, a *box of chocolates and a jar of vitamins -- she presents them to the others with the quiet humor of the totally drained --

DENISEFound these behind the first aid kit: three of the four basic food groups. Let’s mark the occasion. One day till sunrise.

JAKE(eyeing the vodka) *

Am I too young for this?

DENISE(uncorking it)

Nobody’s too young in this town.

Lucy nibbles on a chocolate, her fears welling up again --

LUCYWhat if the sun doesn’t come up? What if there’s a storm?

Eben turns, stunned at the idea -- fighting for hope --

85.


EBEN-- let’s survive today. And then we’ll survive tomorrow. Jake -- *

Eben gestures for Jake to join him privately -- *

EBEN (cont’d) *I just wanted to make sure you knew -- *good job getting everyone here. *

Jake takes in the praise -- right now it’s as valuable as *food. And it’s clear they don’t have many chances left to say *the things we all should say to each other -- *

SUDDENLY THE WALKIE-TALKIE ON EBEN’S BELT CRACKLES TO LIFE --

STELLA (O.S.)Eben -- come in, Eben -- over --

Her voice is thin, whispered, tired -- but it’s never been more welcome to Eben as he CLICKS ON HIS WALKIE-TALKIE --

EBENStella -- !

STELLA (O.S.)-- whisper -- they’ve been walking around, but I had to hear your voice -- I’ve got Gail with me --

EBENWhere are you?

EXT. UNDER PARKED CAR - NIGHT - SIMULTANEOUS182 182

Stella and Gail, blue with cold, huddle together UNDER A PARKED CHEVY, with snow packed up around the sides to form a makeshift igloo. Stella WHISPERS INTO THE WALKIE-TALKIE --

STELLAUnder Paul Jayko’s Chevy -- *

GAIL-- so cold --

Stella looks to Gail in concern -- the little girl fighting to *keep her teeth from chattering. Stella hugs Gail even tighter *to her, pouring every bit of nurturing she has in her soul *into keeping his girl safe -- *

OMITTED183-184 183-184

86.


EXT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT185 185

The others crowd a newly-energized Eben, staring outside --

EBEN(ON WALKIE-TALKIE)

The sun comes up tomorrow -- you and I’ll see it together --

A beat as Eben wracks his brain for something to inspire her --

EBEN (cont’d)-- remember that ridge? Where we had our first date? We’ll make it back there, baby -- I promise --

He keeps searching -- he knows he needs to give her more than *just memories to keep her going -- but what? Jake spots the *stranded Chevy, points it out to Eben --

JAKEThere’s the car!

DENISE(eyes widening)

Too many of them -- they’d kill us way before we’d reach her --

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT - EBEN’S POV186 186

From the height of the storage tank, the desolate town is laid bare under the stars. On the main drag, some five blocks away from the Utilidor, an abandoned Chevy waits in the snow --

AND A BLOCK CLOSER, MARLOW AND FIVE OTHER VAMPIRES ARE GATHERING IN THE STREET --

EBEN (O.S.)They’re a block away, baby -- we need to cut off before they hear you --

EXT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT - RESUME187 187

Eben clutches the WALKIE-TALKIE like a lifeline --

EBEN-- I’ll call you when it’s safe --

And he adds, for the first time in a long while --

EBEN (cont’d)I love you --

87.


A pause -- did Stella hear? Finally, faintly -- *

STELLA (O.S.)I’m sorry, baby -- shouldn’t ever have *left you -- *

SHE CLICKS OFF -- as Eben steels himself, determining that he will do anything but let her down --

OMITTED188-189 188-189

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT190 190 *

TITLE: DAY 30. The remaining vampires -- eleven grim jackals *-- listen as Marlow SPEAKS IN HIS ARCANE LANGUAGE --

MARLOW (clear, vicious orders)

The other vampires careen away to do Marlow’s bidding --

EXT. UNDER PARKED CAR - NIGHT191 191

Stella’s WALKIE-TALKIE CRACKLES IN, EBEN’S VOICE WHISPERING AT ITS LOWEST AND MOST INTIMATE VOLUME --

EBEN (O.S.)Stella -- CLICK TWICE to let me know you’re all right.

Stella’s fighting for strength, she and Gail both suffering from the chills, their skin turning brittle and blue. She CLICKS the walkie-talkie ONCE -- then TWICE --

EBEN (O.S.) (cont’d)They’re up to something, can’t tell what -- just run like hell if I call --

Stella CLICKS TWICE to acknowledge him --

Eben takes a breath, determined to do something as rough for him as surviving in the cold is for Stella --

EBEN (O.S.) (cont’d)Baby -- I never wanted to lose you. I just couldn’t see how to --

(stepping up to the plate)Listen. We get through this -- when we DO get through this --

(the step he couldn’t take)

-- you’ll have a family --

88.


Stella closes her eyes, this precious moment warring with desperation -- it would be so easy to go to sleep forever --

EBEN (O.S.) (cont’d)I’ll come through for you, just stay *with me -- *

Stella clutches Gail closer to her -- hearing Eben speak like this means so very much to her --


Eben listens, hears TWO CLICKS in answer -- and prays --


A MYSTERIOUS BLACKNESS OOZES into the streets everywhere --


Denise stares out the window --

DENISEThe streets are filling up with something black --

Eben pushes past her, squinting into the distance, paling --

EBENThey’ve broken into the pipeline --

OMITTED195 195

EXT. BARROW - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS196 196 *

From the Utilidor, we survey the decimated town of Barrow. At *the town’s far end, Marlow grimly savors the moment as he *strikes a match -- and drops the lit match into the street -- which IGNITES IN OILY FLAME.


Eben keeps staring, putting it all together in dread --

EBENThey planned this all along -- burning down the town.

DENISEEverything we’ve built. Nobody’ll know what happened. They’ll think it was some horrible accident.

89.


LUCY *Next year they’ll take out Point Hope. *Or Wainwright. *

JAKEThis building’s strong. Can’t we ride it out here?

EBENMaybe.

(a beat)But that Chevy Stella’s under will go off like a bomb.

Lucy sinks back in shock, as Eben reels --

EXT. ROGERS AVENUE - NIGHT - SHORTLY LATER198 198

The fire spreads through Barrow like lava from hell -- houses IGNITE, an SUV parked on the street BURNS AWAY --

TWO BARROWITES, hidden up till now, run out from a blazing *house, SCREAMING, their clothes singed, running toward the Utilidor for their last chance at safety --

When a PACK OF VAMPIRES lunges from the roof of a building, landing on the survivors and feeding --


Gail, wrapped inside Stella’s parka, looks to her --

GAIL *What happens when you die? *

STELLA *We’re not gonna die, Gail, we just *have to wait a little longer -- *

GAIL(not so sure) *

It feels warmer --

STELLA(concerned)

Stay awake, honey --


Near the Utilidor, Marlow and his pack watch in satisfaction as the inferno steadily approaches, a few blocks away. The smoke CURLS AND BILLOWS forward through the streets --

90.


OMITTED201 201

INT. STORAGE TANK CORRIDOR - NIGHT202 202 *

Eben watches, sweating, as the fire creeps through the town --

EBENIf she runs, the bastards get her -- if she stays put, she’ll burn --

Jake, pale and honest, stands at his side --

JAKE-- you try to reach her, won’t they go after all of us?

Eben leans against the door in pain -- knowing he can’t sacrifice everyone else, but unable to give up Stella --

Eben breathes harder and harder -- thoughts churning --

EBEN Oh God --

(looks about)Oh dear God --

PUSH IN on Eben’s face -- he sees what to do, but he’s overwhelmed by the gravity of the step he’s about to take --

Then he bolts for the stairs as Jake watches, baffled --

OMITTED203-204 203-204


The oozing, raging inferno creeps closer to the Chevy where Stella and Gail wait --


Carrying a first aid kit, Eben fishes out a syringe -- kneels beside Billy’s corpse -- and sticks the syringe in its arm. He pulls the stopper, FILLS THE SYRINGE WITH BLOOD --

Jake and the others arrive just in time to see Eben wince as he INJECTS THE BLOOD-FILLED SYRINGE INTO HIS OWN ARM. Lucy GASPS as the empty syringe falls to the floor --

EBENWhile they’re watching me, get on the walkie-talkie, tell Stella and Gail to run for it --

91.


Eben collapses as though he’s starting withdrawal from drugs --

JAKE(hoarsely)

What did you do -- ?!

LUCYYou can’t -- !

EBEN(through his teeth)

Carter and Billy changed -- they were only bitten. They managed to hold onto who they were for a while --

JAKE *It’s someone else’s blood --

DENISE-- are you crazy -- ? *

LUCY(over, at a total loss)

It’s -- you -- !

Lucy turns, unable to watch what’s happening to Eben --

EBEN(shouting them down)

We can’t fight them off -- the way we are --

Sweat cascades across Eben’s brow as he shudders, his breath *thickening -- for a moment it looks like an asthma attack. *Jake digs in Eben’s pocket, hands Eben the inhaler -- *

JAKEHere -- ! *

But within moments, Eben’s breath becomes fuller, deeper -- he *takes the inhaler and stares at it in amazement -- *

EBEN-- don’t need it -- ! *

He drops the inhaler as sweat beads across his face, places a *hand on Jake’s shoulder, it’s getting harder to talk -- *

EBEN (cont’d) *-- thanks -- little brother -- take *care of Stella -- *

Then he reels back as another wave of agony shatters through *him; DENISE GASPS AS EBEN’S PUPILS WIDEN, LARGER AND BLACKER --*

92.


DENISE-- he’s one of them -- *

Eben’s lips pull back in a rictus of pain -- his gums have started to recede, making his teeth look unsettlingly feral --

LUCY-- how do we know he won’t attack US? *

DENISE(reluctant fear)

Maybe we should stop him now --

JAKESHUT UP -- SHUT UP -- YOU TOUCH HIM AND YOU CAN KILL ME, TOO -- !

OFF Eben, not sure he can endure the pain --


Marlow looks to the sky -- behind the black smoke, it looks just a shade brighter.


Stella carves a peephole in the snow -- and through it RUSHES OILY BLACK SMOKE. She and Gail start to choke --


A pallid Eben, his voice now DEATHLY HOARSE, looks up to Jake, Gail, Lucy and Denise --

EBENI can smell your blood.

He rises, struggling with temptation, warning them away with his eyes --

As he heads for the corridor that leads to the outside --

DENISEYou can’t beat them all, Eben -- *

Eben knows it. Jake reads Eben’s plan in his eyes -- *

JAKE *He’s just holding them till Stella and *Gail can make it inside -- *

93.


EBEN *(a beat; grimly) *

If I can. *


Smoke floods the air -- down the road, the town is in full blaze. Suddenly the door KICKS OPEN -- and Eben emerges, fighting for balance, unaccustomed to his new senses, squinting through the smoke, face torn with pain and mission --

Like the vampires, Eben’s breath does not billow in the cold, but he’s wrapped up in winter gear so that no one notices --

Eben works for his bearings -- then trudges directly toward Marlow, the CRUNCH of his steps in the ice making Marlow turn. *Marlow recognizes Eben, HISSING vindictively -- *

MARLOWThe one who fights.

Eben nods -- the angry bond between himself and Marlow clear. He keeps walking steadily toward Marlow. The other vampires circle, but Marlow cautions them back with a wave of his arm -- he doesn’t need, doesn’t want any help for dealing with Eben. No, this will be a pleasure.

Eben lurches toward the other vampires for a moment -- they watch, uncertain what the hell he has in mind --

Then he resumes trudging toward Marlow, as Marlow shakes his head, nearly pitying how far gone Eben appears to be --

INT. PUMP HOUSE, UTILIDOR - NIGHT211 211

JAKE FIRES UP THE WALKIE-TALKIE --

JAKEStella, it’s Jake -- get out of there now, run, run -- !


Stella and Gail don’t need to be told twice -- they push their way through their smoky coffin toward the outside --

EXT. STREETS - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS213 213

-- seeing the oily miasma pouring toward them, Stella and Gail stumble out, yearning for safety, legs shaky from a day’s worth of cold and inaction --

94.



Eben pushes forward, knowing any moment might be his last --

Finally he’s nearly two yards away from Marlow -- and suddenly he reaches for Marlow, trying to grab at him with surprising speed. But Marlow BACKHANDS HIM INTO THE ICE --

Eben struggles to his feet, throws a fist at Marlow -- who catches the fist and throws Eben back --

Eben lunges again for Marlow, knocking him down for a moment --

Then Marlow, SNARLING, HURLS HIMSELF at Eben, ripping at him again and again, tearing his parka loose, battering his face and body mercilessly --

Eben desperately crawls, trying to get his feet under him --

Until Marlow pulls him by his hair and WHIPS him bitterly, face up, against the ice --

Eben GASPS for breath, fighting to suck in some strength -- his mouth is bloody, and the blood makes the ice slicker as they fight --

Zurial and the other vampires watch intently -- impressed by Eben’s ability to survive against Marlow even this long --

STELLA -- stops with Gail, seeing through the smoke that in the crowd ahead, her husband is fighting for all their lives --

MARLOW -- REACHES DOWN AND ENCIRCLES EBEN’S LEFT HAND IN HIS CLAWLIKE FINGERS -- HE SQUEEZES AND SQUEEZES, RELENTLESSLY, UNTIL WE HEAR THE SNAPPING OF BONES --

Eben fights not to feel the pain, but HIS VISION IS BLURRING, it’s hard to see how much longer he can last --

He glances to the night sky above --

EXT. SKIES - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS215 215

IS IT A FEW DEGREES LIGHTER THAN IT SEEMED A MOMENT AGO?


Zurial and the other vampires look to the sky warily, tensing at the knowledge that the night is almost gone -- realizing they face a decision --

Marlow circles Eben, gloating in triumph --

95.


Eben summons up his strength and butts his head into Marlow, knocking him onto the ice --

Insulted, Marlow SPITS FERALLY and regains his haunches, like a wolf who will not give up his prey --

Eben wobbles for a moment on the ice, but determines to keep the momentum on his side. With brutal drive he bolts toward Marlow, his left arm hanging limply with its fingers now broken, ready to strike another blow --

AT THE PUMP HOUSE DOOR -- Jake, Denise and Lucy watch in dread, helpless if Eben fails --

ON THE ICE -- the permafrost CRACKS as Marlow dodges Eben and WHACKS him into the unforgiving ground again and again. It’s a savage onslaught that makes Eben’s very skull seem to SHAKE from the impact --

Eben knows he needs a moment to recoup -- he tries to crawl away to gain a breather --

But Marlow drags him back mercilessly as the smoke whirls around them, Eben’s face lacerating against the ice --

Then he grabs Eben’s throat with one hand, lifting him up from the frozen ground with a sadistic smile --

Marlow hurls Eben to the ground -- KICKS HIS FACE VICIOUSLY, and then towers over Eben --

FROM THE TOWN -- a handful of tattered, drained survivors, driven north by the smoke and fire, emerge to watch in awe, struggling to understand what is happening -- the gaunt veterans of thirty days of night, mute witnesses to this battle that will decide their fates, JOINING A TRANSFIXED STELLA AND GAIL --

ON THE ICE -- Eben struggles to remain conscious, searching about until he sees --

STELLA -- her heart breaking, her eyes filled with both HOPE AND GRIEF. He takes it all in --

Marlow follows Eben’s gaze, seeing Stella as well. With a cruel smile, he drops Eben, stalking toward Stella, ready to rob Eben of his companion even as Eben ruined Marlow’s toy --

Eben, seeing Marlow heading for Stella, WRENCHES HIMSELF OFF THE ICE and hurls himself at Marlow --

They tumble together, a small chaos of fury and bloodlust -- as Marlow emerges on top, ready to finish Eben off --

96.


Marlow bares his fangs -- this last kill will be so very satisfying --

Eben’s eyes are nearly swollen shut -- his face is a mass of welts and agony --

BUT THEN EBEN FORCES HIS EYES WIDE, STARING UP AT HIS ENEMY -- AND HIS DEATH-BLACK PUPILS MATCH THOSE OF MARLOW --

Marlow hesitates for a nanosecond, confused --

Eben, facing his last, does the thing he didn’t think he could *do -- he reaches into his depths and pulls up the ferocity and *strength of a wildcat --

Reaching up, he takes hold of Marlow’s jaw with his wounded hand, and in a berserker rage, SLAMS HIS GOOD HAND ALL THE WAY INTO MARLOW’S MOUTH --

The vampires gape in AWE AT THE SOUND OF RIPPING FLESH --

And MARLOW’S HEAD lands on the ice in a rush of red pain and shock, still not realizing he’s lost. His eyes close -- he is gone.

Eben stares, blinking, astonished by it all, unable to *comprehend for a moment that he’s won. Slowly he pulls himself to his knees --

Zurial looks grimly to the sky -- two other vampires take a step back, retreating as their night runs out --

The survivors at the pump house BREATHE IN DEEPLY, unable to contain their swelling hope --

STELLA -- however, sees there’s something far worse to learn yet -- she runs to Eben, kneeling beside him on the ice --

STELLA-- what did you do to yourself?

EBEN(a solemn beat)

What I had to.

She embraces him desperately -- overwhelmed by his sacrifice. He fights his way to his feet, looking at Marlow’s blood on his hands. He needs it -- the blood would taste so very good. But he can’t bring himself to go there --

Clenching his jaw, he looks around -- THE VAMPIRES ARE ENTIRELY GONE --

97.


EBEN (cont’d)Should I go after them?

STELLAThey won’t come back.

Gail looks about, lost and overwhelmed --

Seeing Gail, Eben looks to Stella in silent, sacred agreement. Stella takes Eben’s meaning and nods, kneeling to Gail --

STELLA (cont’d)Come here, sweetheart --

Stella folds a grateful Gail in her arms, then reaches out to include Jake as well -- her new family.

JAKEIt’s almost dawn. We made it.

Stella looks up to the skies, apprehensive --

STELLAEben -- the dawn --

EXT. SKIES - NEAR DAWN - CONTINUOUS217 217

ABOVE THE SMOKE, THE HEAVENS ARE NO LONGER BLACK. THE SKY IS NOW RICH BLUE, THE COLOR OF ONCOMING DAY --

EXT. UTILIDOR - NEAR DAWN - CONTINUOUS218 218

Eben nods; he understands full well what’s coming with the dawn. Stella holds onto Gail and Jake for balance, weak as she realizes the full extent of Eben’s transformation --

Denise turns to the survivors --

DENISEThe firehouse -- let’s start the hydrants, see what we can save --

Lucy and Jake join the other Barrowites, moving to recapture their town. Stella rises from Gail’s side to caress Eben’s cheek, her face wet with tears --

STELLAYou could hide -- we could find blood for you --

EBEN(honestly, no self-pity)

Stella.

98.

(MORE)


It’s getting hard to fight -- I’m forgetting everything but the pain. There’s just one place for me to go --

He turns, wishing to spare Stella what is to come --

STELLAI’m coming -- I won’t run again --

OFF Eben, heartened by knowing Stella’s standing by him --

EXT. SUMMIT - DAWN219 219

In the distance, the smoke curls up slowly now from Barrow -- the flames have subsided. Much of the town is charred, but there is still a town worth reclaiming.

Eben and Stella sit together as the sun edges over the distant icy horizon. Eben, his skin a landscape of agony, shivers while Stella grasps his hands with both hands --

EBEN-- I sent Billy to take you to the airport -- knew he wouldn’t make it -- wanted you to stay --

A grateful nod from Stella; she always suspected it. She works to contain her fears as he winces, not sure he can endure the pain any longer --

EBEN (cont’d)Baby --

STELLA I’m here. I’m here with you.

EBENListen -- listen to me --

STELLA(time slipping away)

Yes -- I’m here, I’m listening --

EBENI could live forever -- but I don’t want to breathe another second -- if I can’t remember what it feels like to love you --

Fighting back tears because they can’t risk missing a moment together, their eyes lock. Everything they’ve ever said to each other, everything they’ve never said and should have, it all passes between them --

99.EBEN (cont'd)


THE SUN STARES DOWN AT THEM, BEAUTIFUL AND DEADLY, SEARING THEM WITH LETHAL RADIANCE. CAMERA CIRCLES AROUND THEM, as Eben winces, gasps in pain --

Stella throws her arms around him for dear life --

Eben’s skin finishes CHARRING TO BLACK as Stella holds him -- within moments he is dead.

CLOSE ON STELLA, THE SUN REFLECTED IN HER EYES AS HER HEART BREAKS FOR EBEN AND HIS SACRIFICE. PULL CLOSER AND CLOSER ON STELLA UNTIL --

CUT TO BLACK.

THE END

100.


Documents

30 DAYS OF NIGHT Revisions by Adi Hasak Current Revisio ns by … · 2014-02-03 · 30 DAYS OF NIGHT Screenplay by Steve Niles Based on the graph ic novel by Niles & Templesmith Revisions